WYD: Fr Lombardi on the opening Mass

(Vatican Radio) Thousands of young people braved the wind, rain, and even the ocean waves to attend the opening Mass of the 28^th World Youth Day, celebrated Tuesday evening on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Presiding over the Mass, along with some 400 bishops, was Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro Orani João Tempesta. In his homily, Archbishop Tempesta challenged young people to form a new generation that lives the faith, one that will pass on this faith to the generation to follow.
Director of the Holy See Press Office Fr Federico Lombardi is in Rio de Janeiro for WYD, and described his experience attending the opening Mass.“It was a particular atmosphere,” he said in an interview with Seàn Patrick Lovett. “It was Rio, but Rio with bad weather, with wind, with rain.” Despite the challenging weather, however, he said the youth attending the Mass were nonetheless in good spirits.
“As in Madrid during the night with the storm,” Fr Lombardi said, “the difficulties that come from certain situations cannot destroy, cannot change the very strong positive attitude and enthusiasm of the young people.”
Listen to Seàn Patrick Lovett’s full interview with Fr Federico Lombardi: