World Youth Day - Rio 2013

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Nathan de Brito hugs Pope Francis during his visit to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day 2013.

Boy who got past security barrier to embrace Pope Francis at WYD 2013 is now a seminarian

Jul 11, 2023

By Natalia Zimbrão

On July 26, 2013, Nathan de Brito managed to get to the popemobile carrying Pope Francis through the streets of... Read more

Nathan de Brito and Pope Francis at World Youth Day 2013 (L) Nathan de Brito and Bishop Joaquim Wladimir Lopes Dias en 2021 (R). Facebook de Mons. Joaquim Wladimir Lopes Dias

Boy who embraced pope during WYD in Rio is now a young man discerning religious life

Jan 5, 2022

By Cynthia Perez

During World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, in 2013, a boy made his way through the crowd to hug... Read more

A priest from the Shalom Community celebrates Mass at a Shalom Evangelization Center in Fatima, Brazil in this undated file photo.

Brazil Catholic community leads surging charismatic renewal

Aug 4, 2014

As a steadily growing movement in the Catholic Church, the Charismatic Renewal includes an estimated 160 million of the world's... Read more

CNA

Forty-five WYD participants seek refugee status in Brazil

Aug 27, 2013

Citing religious oppression in their home countries, 45 young people who took part in World Youth Day 2013 in Rio... Read more

Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day on July 24, 2013.

Pope Francis thanks Rio governor for warm welcome at WYD

Aug 26, 2013

The governor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has received a letter from Pope Francis offering thanks for the city’s hospitality... Read more

Pope Francis greets the faithful as he arrives on the popemobile at the San Joaquin Episcopal Palace in Rio de Janeiro on July 26, 2013. ANSA/Luca Zennaro/Pool.

Despite reports, Vatican organizer says Rio went as planned

Aug 2, 2013

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Although the media focused on some of the moments when the Pope’s security team appeared overwhelmed during the World Youth... Read more

Pope Francis embraces, cries with Nathan during WYD.

Boy who embraced Pope receives hero's welcome at school

Aug 1, 2013

The young boy who brought Pope Francis to tears during World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro was greeted with... Read more

CNA

Archbishop of Rio underscores positive impact of WYD

Jul 31, 2013

Archbishop Orani Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro said World Youth Day 2013 has had a positive impact on the country,... Read more

Cardinal Turkson at Vatican Press Office`s conference on upcoming conference for Women and the post-2015 development agenda.

Cardinal Turkson links care for environment, human life

Jul 30, 2013

By Michelle La Rosa

Respect for the environment is a matter of justice, connected to respect for human life and founded upon our relationship... Read more

(L-R) Yoel Aparicio and Gershon Cruz spent the night on Copacabana Beach July 28, 2013.

World Youth Day vigil was 'spectacular,' say pilgrims in Rio

Jul 29, 2013

Young people participating in the World Youth Day prayer vigil in Rio de Janeiro before the final Mass with Pope... Read more

Thousands of pilgrims at a catechesis with Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley on July 26 in Vivo Rio center, Rio de Janeiro.

Cardinal O'Malley to youth: witness by building strong marriages

Jul 28, 2013

Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston encouraged thousands of pilgrims at a catechesis talk in Rio de Janeiro to choose... Read more

Katherine Bauman reads the first reading during the Mass for the Evangelization of Peoples July 28, 2013.

Lector at Papal WYD Mass says she encountered Church

Jul 28, 2013

The young woman who proclaimed a Scripture reading at the Papal Mass at World Youth Day said that it was... Read more

Pope Francis addresses World Youth Day volunteers, July 28, 2013.

Make definite commitments, Pope urges youth

Jul 28, 2013

In his encounter of thanks with the volunteers at World Youth Day, Pope Francis exhorted the young people to make... Read more

Fr. Federico Lombardi speaks during a press conference in Brazil.

'Marks' of Francis' papacy starting to emerge, Vatican spokesman says

Jul 28, 2013

By Michelle La Rosa

The director of the Vatican press office said that several major themes can be seen throughout Pope Francis’ addresses during... Read more

Bishop John Ebebe Ayah of Ogaja, Nigeria gives a catechesis session at the 28th World Youth Day on July 26, 2013.

Nigerian bishop calls Catholics to be missionaries at home

Jul 28, 2013

By Michelle La Rosa

Catholics should live out their everyday lives in a way that witnesses to those around them, offering hope in a... Read more

Austen Ivereigh, Founder of Catholic Voices, with Alejandro Bermudez, Exec. Dir. of Catholic News Agency, talk to WYD pilgrims July 24, 2013.

WYD pilgrims learn techniques to defend, explain faith

Jul 27, 2013

By Michelle La Rosa

Participants at a World Youth Day training session received a crash course in defending the Catholic faith, both in the... Read more

Bishop D. Eugene Hurley of Darwin, Australia gives a catechesis session at the 28th World Youth Day on July 26, 2013.

Bishop: love of Christ must fuel missionary work

Jul 27, 2013

By Michelle La Rosa

Our evangelization work must be motivated by a relationship of love with Jesus, an Australian bishop told a group of... Read more

A pilgrim takes time during World Youth Day to speak with a priest July 26, 2013.

Vocations Fair at WYD seeks to spark reflection

Jul 26, 2013

A major part of World Youth Day, the 2013 Vocations Fair offers young people examples of those who have responded... Read more

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver gives a catechesis session during World Youth Day in Rio on July 25, 2013. Estefania Aguirre/CNA.

Jesus wants intimate friendship, Denver archbishop tells youth

Jul 26, 2013

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila encouraged young people attending World Youth Day to move beyond having a surface-level friendship with Jesus... Read more

The Said di Lavor Family made the trip from Brasilia to Rio de Janeiro for the 2013 World Youth Day. Estefania Aguirre/CNA.

Brazilian family uses WYD as pro-life opportunity

Jul 26, 2013

The Said di Lavor family did not leave their commitment to protecting unborn children at home when they made the... Read more