Address of Pope Francis to the people of the Varginhas community, July 25, 2013 Dear Brothers and Sisters, It is wonderful to be here with you! From the start, my wish in planning this visit to Brazil was to be able to visit every district throughout the nation. I would have liked to knock on ...read more

Address of Pope Francis to the community of the Saint Francis of Assisi Hospital in Rio de Janeiro, July 24, 2013 Dear Archbishop Tempesta, brother Bishops, Distinguished Authorities, Members of the Venerable Third Order of Saint Francis of Penance, Doctors, Nurses, and Health Care Workers, Dear Young People and Family Members, God has willed that ...read more

Homily of Pope Francis at the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, July 24, 2013 My Brother Bishops and Priests, Dear Brothers and Sisters, What joy I feel as I come to the house of the Mother of every Brazilian, the Shrine of our Lady of Aparecida! The day after my election as Bishop of ...read more

Blessed Chiara Luce Badano Chiara Luce Badano was born in Sassello, Italy. When she was 10 years old, she had an encouter with God that changed her life. From that point forward, she decided to radically live the Gospel, seeking to love all those around her. When she was 18, she was diagnosed with a ...read more

Pope Francis arrived in Rio de Janeiro for the 28th World Youth Day on Monday, July 22nd. He addressed government officials, dignitaries and the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff with these words: Madam President, Distinguished Authorities, Brethren and Friends! In his loving providence, God wished that the first international trip of my pontificate should take ...read more

Saint Rose of Lima Isabel Flores was born in Lima, Peru in 1576. Rosa was her nickname because of her beauty. She was the first saint of the Americas and is noted for her intense life of prayer and penance. Although she experienced many difficulties in her life, she maintained an extraordinary serenity, imitating the ...read more

St Therese of Lisieux St Therese was born in France in 1873. When she was 15 she entered a Carmelite monastery, where she lived with humility and simplicity her total trust in God. In 1927, she was proclaimed Patroness of the Missions because of her deep desire to be a missionary, and for her extraordinary ...read more

Courtesy of ZENIT, a 360 interactive image is available of “Campus Fidei” (“Field of Faith”), the site of next weekend’s WYD Rio Prayer Vigil and Closing Mass. Check it out for yourself: Launch interactive image! ...read more

Blessed John Paul II Blessed Pope John Paul II founded World Youth Day in 1984. He is considered the Pope of the Youth because he invited young people to recognize their special mission in the Church. During his enduring pontificate, he helped to guide Christians in their understanding of the Second Vatican Council. Through his ...read more

Blessed Isidore Bakanja Blessed Isidore Bakanja was born around 1887 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (then the Belgian Congo). He was baptized on 15 August 1909 at eighteen years of age through the ministry of Cistercian missionaries. Isidore was a very devout convert and catechist. He had a great love for the Blessed Virgin ...read more