Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jul 24, 2013 / 16:11 pm
Wind and rain on Copacabana beach did not stop more than half a million young people from experiencing the global nature of the Church at the Opening Mass of World Youth Day on the evening of July 23.
"This is amazing. It's more fun than I've ever had," said Michael Nightingale.
The 17-year-old from St. Louis, Mo., is traveling with an archdiocesan group and said that he is attending World Youth Day for the first time.
So far, he told CNA, the best part has been "just mixing with all the teens and being here with people from all over the world."