Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jul 10, 2013 / 13:18 pm
The World Youth Day Cross and Icon of the Virgin Mary arrived July 6 in Rio de Janeiro, where they will remain until the conclusion of the July 23-28 gathering of young people and Pope Francis.
Some 1,500 young people from the Diocese of Itaguai carried the two World Youth Day symbols in procession to Rio de Janeiro, where they were met at the Church of St. Joseph by the head of the World Youth Day organizational committee.
Archbishop Orani Tempesta presided at a special Mass, and afterwards, the two symbols were taken to the Cathedral of St. Sebastian.
The two symbols "have crossed the world, and since September of 2011, they have traveled throughout Brazil, visiting not only the dioceses but also schools, prisons, squares and indigenous communities," Archbishop Tempesta said. "In this way, the message of Christ is reaching all the men and women of Brazil."