(ANS –Vatican City) – Last Monday at the Vatican Press Office there was a Press Conference given by the Pontifical Council for the Laity on the preparations for the XXVIII World Youth Day (WYD), to be held in Rio de Janeiro between 23 and 28 July 2013. Among those who spoke was Bishop  Eduardo Pinheiro da Silva SDB auxiliary bishop of Campo Grande and President of the Bishops’ Commission for Youth of the National Bishops’ Conference of Brazil.

During the conference Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, briefly referred to the international meeting of Delegates for WYD/Youth Ministry held at  Rocca di Papa and then spoke about the preparations for the next WYD in Rio de Janeiro, as an event which forms part of the Latin America continental mission and at world level  the Year of Faith. “WYD has as its purpose the growth in the faith of the young people of the world for the mission,” the Cardinal said.

Referring to the Pope’s Message for XXVII WYD – held in all the dioceses of the world last Sunday 2 April - the Cardinal spoke about the joyful aspect as a natural characteristic of the WYD

Archbishop Orani João Tempesta, O. Cist. of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, the diocese hosting the GMG 2013 provided some significant details of the state of preparation for the organisation of the event and mentioned the great involvement already by young people in the initiatives linked with WYM especially through the digital media: “The official site for WYD Rio 2013 has been on line since the announcement on  21 August 2011. The Social Networks for WYD both Facebook and Twitter have been used by over 600,000 people.”

The Salesian Bishop Pinheiro da Silva then gave some information about the situation of young people and the church in Brazil. He described the structure of the Bishops’ Youth Commission of which he is the President. Then referring to the pilgrimage of the WYD Cross and Marian Icon he said that “These two main symbols of WYD  have visited over 130 of the 276 dioceses in l Brazil reaching about 2 million young people.” He also said that WYD represents the main event for the church and young people together and gives a great boost to Youth Ministry in the  host country.

Dr. Luiz Carlos Pugialli, President of the Brazilian Government Commission for Rio2013; and  Fr João Wilkes Chagas, from the Pontifical Council for the Laity also spoke.

Published 04/04/2012