Vatican City, 6 February 2014 (VIS) – We publish below the full text of the message the Holy Father has sent to the young people preparing for the 29th World Youth Day 2014, which will take as its theme: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Dear Young Friends, ...read more

Recently I looked at something I wrote six months ago when Pope Francis had just been elected. Someone had asked me if he was going to be a progressive pope. My response was that I thought Pope Francis would be taking the Church where she needs to go. What I have found most surprising of ...read more

Pilgrims have returned home, Copacabana Beach has been cleaned and Rio de Janeiro has returned to business as usual, but in the hearts of everyone something has changed. Something has to have changed. This has been my fourth international World Youth Day and every time, something changes. Perhaps it’s an insight, perhaps an emotion or ...read more

Salt and Light Photo: The National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil By Sebastian Gomes World Youth Day Rio is about to begin and everyone is wondering what Pope Francis is going to say and do on his first trip back to South America.  Well, last week I may have uncovered a major clue. A ...read more

World youth Day Rio has released a series of videos called “Discipulus.” These videos are reflections on discipleship and the many ways of being disciples. In today’s video the reflection is focused on the word intimacy. ...read more

The local organizing committee of WYD Rio 2013 organized a visit of the historic image of Saint Sebastian, patron saint of the City of Rio, to various places in the diocese. In the photo above we see the Archbishop of Rio, João Orani Tempesta leading the processions to what was, until recently, one of the ...read more

Registration for WYD Rio 2013 is officially open.  Pilgrims must be registered in groups and the number of pilgrims in each group cannot be more than 50. Each pilgrim group needs to have a leader and a second-leader.  If the groups are co-ed the team leaders should be a man and a woman. All Canadian ...read more

A year ago Madrid was getting ready to receive the pope. The youth of the world arrived in Madrid to celebrate the faith. But one year after, were there fruits? I first thought about this when Salt and Light prepared the anniversary of WYD 2002. As a staff member for the Madrilenian WYD I asked ...read more

How John Paul II was close to me in WYD 2002 In 2002, I was 16 years old and had just finished grade 10. That summer was my first time attending World Youth Day. My parents raised me Catholic and every Sunday we went diligently to mass. I remember often resisting mass, and just felt ...read more

Today’s photo of the day is courtesy of WYD Rio 2013. The official WYD prayer was launched July 13 during a mass with Archbishop Joao Orani Tempesta. A participant holds the sheet of paper with images of the WYD patrons saints and intercessors printed on it. The words in the centre of the page say ...read more