World Youth Day’s main events to be in Rio’s neighbourhood
November 30, 2012 - The organizers of the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day in Brazil
next year have chosen a spot in Rio de Janeiro's Guaratiba neighbourhood, some 96
kms from the city centre, for the vigil and closing Mass July 27-28. Archbishop Orani
Tempesta of Rio announced the venue on Wednesday during a preparatory meeting for
the international church event, which will run July 23-28. Pope Benedict XVI is expected
to attend the closing days of the event. Organizers expect more than 2 million young
people to gather at the 3.5 square km venue. Organizers said the area will have
pilgrim service islands that will include restrooms, medical and food tents, tents
for worshiping, water fountains and big-screen TVs. Special shuttle transportation
to and from Guaratiba is also being discussed. Guaratiba is an indigenous word that
means "location with great quantity of herons." To this day the area, which has some
of Rio's most beautiful beaches, is filled with white herons.