Get to know more about the event to happen from the 23rd to the 28th of July
Written by Juliana Frazão
You have probably already heard that Brazil will be the stage for the most important events that are going to happen in the coming years. World Cup and Olympic Games are usually remembered when it comes to this matter, however something greater (and noisier too) is knocking the doors of every person who lives in Rio de Janeiro – it is World Youth Day!
This catholic event was created by pope John Paul II, who wanted to be with youngsters from all over the globe to celebrate life and faith. Somehow, it became known worldwide and nowadays it is considered the biggest event on earth. It takes place every two or three years in a different country. Last WYD happened in Madrid, Spain, in 2011, and now, it’s Rio’s turn!
World Youth Days, in general, have a basic program which includes an opening mass, the Via Crucis, a vigil and the closing mass. As the years passed, cultural activities were also added in the plan too. For the Cultural Sector of Rio2013, WYD is not only an opportunity to meet the pope, it is a way of being in a foreign country, learning a different culture, a new language, new habits.
One of the most interesting things about WYD is its audience, people from different continents leave their activities for a week to be part of this experience. In Madrid, 2 million people took part in the central acts of WYD, but in Philippines this number was even larger. More than 4 million participants were present in 1995, in Manila, and this fact gave the edition of the event a world record for the largest Papal crowd ever gathered.
For WYD Rio2013 it is expected more than 2 million youngsters, especially because it will be the first international visit of pope Francis. Considering he is Argentinian, Latin America would not miss the chance of seeing him for the first time since he became the pontiff.
Although it requires a detailed organisation and some professional commitment, most of the people who work for World Youth Day are volunteers. Sometimes they give away their jobs and their projects to cooperate and build an event that is not only a celebration, but is also a sign of hope and life. I talked to two international volunteers who decided to live in Rio for some months to help structure and organise WYD. You can check it here:
The point is that Rio de Janeiro will not be the same after witnessing one of the greatest encounters in the world. In July, flags will be painting our streets with different colours, and the unknown languages that will fill every corner of the city will not be a problem. In the end, everybody will understand each other, because there is no need of translation when we speak the language of love.
Follow WYD:
WYD Rio2013 Twitter – @wyd_en
WYD Rio2013 Website – www.rio2013.com/en
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