WYD cross and Marian icon arrive in Rio de Janeiro
July 11, 2013: 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.”
As young people prayed
and sang hymns, the 12-foot cross first entrusted to the youth by John Paul II in
1984 was placed in the Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro. The Icon of the Virgin Mary, a
replica of the Byzantine image of Mary Salus Populi Romani (Protector of the Roman
People), was also brought to the cathedral. It was donated to young people by John
Paul II in 2003 to accompany the Cross.
“This is a sign that shows the beauty
of the Christian faith, the certainty of Christ risen on the cross, giving his life
for us all, and at the same time the joy of young people, who in all these years have
seen a little bit of their own lives, their dreams, their searching, their joy, in
these symbols,” Archbishop Tempesta said.
The Cross and the icon will be taken
to various parts of Rio de Janeiro until the start of World Youth Day, when several
million people are expected to gather in the Brazilian city. (source: CNA)