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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On the occasion of the 28th World Youth Day, to be held this year in Rio de Janeiro, 38 pilgrims will depart from the Philippines to tell the world the story of St. Pedro Calungsod, the 18 year-old missionary martyr beatified by John Paul II in 2000 and canonized by Benedict XVI in 2012.

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Late last week Harvest Pilgrimages and the BCPL were made aware of some staff changes at the Brazilian Consulate in Sydney. This included a number of senior staff and visa processing staff. These changes have seen a change in our arrangements for the processing of WYD visa's through this consulate. The Brazilian Consulate in Sydney processes visa's for those from New South Wales, Queensland and the Norther Territory.Each application must now be accompanied by the WYD registration certificate (previously waved through a negotiation and the supply of a list of pilgrims travelling with the Official Tour Operator). We have been able to negotiate that the Brazilian Consulate will contact Harvest Pilgrimages to supply these certificates, for those currently at the consulate and those arriving in the coming days.To help in this situation can you please be aware of the following: Please ensure your visa's is lodged immediately as there is now a back log on processing (due to processing being stopped over the past few weeks).

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Download the sheet music for the Official WYD 2013 Anthem with the english lyrics.

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World Youth Day facilities in Rio de Janeiro, July 23-28, will include a special Welcome Center for English-Speaking pilgrims. The site will feature prayer and worship experiences, music, media and videos, motivational speakers, cultural presentations and networking activities.

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