Vatican 2013 2€ Rio de Janeiro

From 23 to 28 July in Rio de Janeiro the 28th World Youth Day was celebrated. On this occasion the Christ the Redeemer statue didn’t only recall the most well-known and loved symbol of the Brazilian city, but also the global meeting place of more than two million young people. The message released the 18 October 2012 by Benedict XVI says “Christ’s open arms are a sign of his willingness to embrace all those who come to him”. The theme chosen for the event was “Go and make disciples of all nations!” (cf. Mt 28:19), an exhortation to young people to evangelize, so that, as Blessed John Paul II noted, “faith is strengthened when it is given to others”. Pope Francis was there to welcome the young people from around the world, to pray with them, to exchange views and to adore the Lord Jesus with them. The Church always has need of the energy, strength, vitality and ideas of young people. The renewal of the Church’s universal mission has to involve and come through them. The celebration of World Youth Day in a country where the majority of the population is young marks a special occasion to strengthen this important bond and unite in a common mission.