Pope Francis, a Jesuit, will be leading the Vigil with young people and celebrating the Final Mass in Guaratiba during World Youth Day. The region used to be a part of the Hacienda Santa Cruz, which was run by Jesuit fathers during the XVI century, in colonial Brazil. This historic fact is part of a research project by Diogo da Silva Cardoso, a doctoral candidate in geography at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

The Catholic faithful from around the world are invited to send their prayer intentions to the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida for the Mass that Pope Francis will celebrate there during his visit to Brazil in July.

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One of the traditional activities of World Youth Day (WYD) is catechesis. Conducted by bishops of diverse nationalities invited by the Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL), catechesis is a moment of reflection and an in-depth examination of the WYD Rio 2013 theme “Go and make disciples among all the nations” (Mt 28:19). Young people from different countries, speakers of a same language, gather together with priests, bishops, and cardinals, to pray and meditate on the mysteries of the love of God.

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Here is another episode of "World Youth Day Minute", featuring the latest English news from the WYD2013 organising committee in Rio. This episode was recorded on 21 June 2013, and talks about the new pilgrim information phone line, the latest email update for volunteers, and how to register for the Graffiti Art contest.

Two of the main Brazilian tourist attractions, the Bondinho (Sugarloaf cable car) and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, will be open longer hours and will have a special schedule during World Youth Day. Tickets sales will be exclusively online.

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During his trip tp Brazil for World Youth Day 2013, on Wednesday 24 July, Pope Francis will visit the National Shrine of Aparecida in São Paulo. The Holy Father will travel in the Popemobile through the city for 45 minutes.

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To make life easier for the pilgrims and volunteers during World Youth Day 2013 the Rio City Council has unanimously voted to have a four-day holiday.

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Here is a new promo video from the WYD office in Rio - promoting the hashtag #Pray4WYD. With less than a month to go, it is so important to supprt the Holy Father's journey to Brazil with our prayers!

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The archbishop of Rio de Janeiro has reassured young people planning to attend World Youth Day that the protests occurring in various cities in Brazil will not affect the massive event. Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta told Vatican Radio June 21 he has spoken with Brazilian intelligence officials who have guaranteed that World Youth Day will be a safe event.

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Sydney's 400-plus World Youth Day pilgrims are not only preparing spiritually for Rio 2013 which begins in just over five weeks but are in training to make sure they are physically fit for the five days they'll be volunteer builders laying concrete pathways and staircases in the shanty hillside towns of Lima, Peru.

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