WYD: Pope to young people, "I'm coming, and my heart is already full of joy"
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "I am arriving in Brazil in a few hours and my heart is already full of joy because soon I will be with you to celebrate the 28th WYD.." From the plane that is taking him to Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis greeted, with a tweet, the young people who are preparing to spend memorable days with him.
Francis' first international apostolic trip began
this morning at 8:53, when the papal plane took off from Rome's Fiumicino
airport. Climbing
onto the Airbus, following the style he has set as Pope, him (pictured) carrying
his own hand luggage, a black bag evidently containing documents, probably the
addresses he will give between today and Sunday for a final reading.
The
plane will land in Rio de Janeiro at 4pm local time, 9 pm Rome time, but the
traditional welcome ceremony will take place an hour later, in the garden of Guanabara
Palace. President
Dilma Rousseff will welcome the Pope and for the occasion, has invited all of the
Presidents of Latin America to Rio.
The main focus of the papal visit
is World Youth Day, which has the theme "Go and make disciples of all
nations!" chosen
by Benedict XVI, who wanted it to be held by Brazil, without being able to
predict that the celebration would be led by the first Latin American pope in
history.
A
Pope who, however, has put his stamp on his visit to Brazil, making some
changes to the program, starting from the visit, Wednesday, to the Marian
shrine of Aparecida. The
place is dear to Francis not only known for his devotion to Mary - he entrusted
WYD celebrations to the Virgin as well as his pontificate - but also because in
2007 the then Cardinal of Buenos Aires led the committee that the fifth
conference of the Latin American commissioned for the drafting
of the conclusions. It
is the "Aparecida Document" in which he denounced violence and
corruption and emphasized the Church's commitment to the "new
outsiders", the marginalized, the poor, those who are denied justice.
Themes
that have appeared dear to him in these first months of his pontificate. Pope Francis will also visit the hospital São
Francisco de Assis Na Providência, specializing addiction rehabilitation from alcohol
and drugs on Wednesday evening. On
Thursday morning, then, following a habit he already had in Buenos Aires, he will
visit a favela, Varginha and on Friday morning and receive some young
prisoners.
As
for the young people - two million according to the latest estimates - who have
converged on Rio de Janeiro for the World Youth Day, the first
"official" meeting with them - the "welcome party" - is
scheduled for Thursday afternoon, along the famous promenade of Copacabana.
Friday
morning the Pope will hear confessions in the park of the Quinta da Boa Vista. Following
a consolidated WYD tradition Francis lunch with 12 young people representing
the five continents. On
Friday night, the Copacabana beach will become the unusual setting for the Way
of the Cross, while Saturday Guaratiba esplanade will be renamed "Campus
Fidei", to accommodate the Prayer Vigil with young people, who will remain
there all night, until Sunday morning and the concluding celebration of the
28th World Youth Day.
The
Pope will also get the opportunity to meet the Coordinating Committee of the Latin
America Bishops Council and the leaders of Brazil, to receive the keys to the
city and to bless the flags for the Olympic Games of 2016. (FP)
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