World Youth Day

The Latest

CNA

Impoverished youth will give Marian image to Brazilian slum

Jul 22, 2013

A group of 67 young people from the slums in Buenos Aires heading to Brazil for World Youth Day will... Read more

Icon of the Virgin of the World Youth Days.

Rio archbishop: World Youth Day shows young people's thirst for God

Jul 22, 2013

As the official start of World Youth Day nears, Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro reflected on the... Read more

CNA

Pope targets 'throwaway culture' during Brazil visit

Jul 22, 2013

Pope Francis said as he flew to Rio de Janeiro that he is going to meet young people and help... Read more

Pope Francis boards the papal plane carrying his black bag at Rome's Fiumicino Airport on July 22, 2013. ANSA/TELENEWS.

Pope Francis' style changes papal flight

Jul 22, 2013

As he boarded the plane for Rio de Janeiro and the 28th World Youth Day, Pope Francis brought his down-to-earth... Read more

World Youth Day pilgrims at Immaculate Conception Church (

WYD pilgrims help rebuild quake-damaged Chilean church

Jul 21, 2013

Forty Australian World Youth Day pilgrims made a special stop in Chile on Saturday to help rebuild a 200-year-old church... Read more

Pilgrims from Karissa O'Hearn's World Youth Day group in Germany.

Past World Youth Day attendees recall finding vocations

Jul 21, 2013

By Mary Farrow, Hannah Brockhaus

As huge crowds of youth flock to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day 2013, some participants from past years... Read more

CNA

Pope prays for WYD before famous Marian image

Jul 21, 2013

Two days before his departure to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil for World Youth Day, Pope Francis made a surprise trip... Read more

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Vatican prompts prayer app update in time for World Youth Day

Jul 20, 2013

Major updates to a popular Catholic prayer application for smart phones have been completed just in time for World Youth... Read more

Flash mob organizers hope to unite WYD crowds in Rio

Jul 19, 2013

Organizers of a massive flash mob in Brazil hope that some two million young people from around the world will... Read more

Pope Francis welcomes Benedict XVI back to the Vatican at Mater Ecclesia monastery on May 2, 2013.

Pope Francis prays with Benedict XVI before World Youth Day

Jul 19, 2013

Pope Francis met with former pontiff Benedict XVI today to pray for his trip to Brazil and for World Youth... Read more

Indulgences not a 'magical formula,' canon lawyer explains

Jul 18, 2013

By Carl Bunderson

In contrast with media reports of “time off of purgatory” for Pope Francis' Twitter followers, a canon lawyer says indulgences... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2013.

Pope Francis will visit slum, not use popemobile in Rio

Jul 18, 2013

During next week's World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis will be staying in a modest residency, visiting... Read more

World Youth Day Rio 2013 logo.

Vatican: Change of Popes 'intensified' World Youth Day

Jul 18, 2013

A Vatican spokesman said the change of Popes which occurred from the announcement of World Youth Day to its fruition... Read more

Pilgrims from Colombia during World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid.

Pope to receive cross signed by 10,000 Colombian youth

Jul 17, 2013

During World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro next week, Pope Francis will be presented with and bless a wooden... Read more

World Youth Day Rio 2013 logo.

Bishop catechists for World Youth Day 2013 revealed

Jul 16, 2013

During World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, more than 250 bishops from around the world will preside at catechetical... Read more

Blessed Chiara 'Luce' Badano.

Blessed Chiara Badano an 'excellent' model for World Youth Day

Jul 16, 2013

A friend of Blessed Chiara Badano, a patroness of World Youth Day 2013 who united her suffering from cancer to... Read more

The room where Pope Francis will stay during his visit to Brazil for World Youth Day Rio 2013.

Pope Francis' accommodations for World Youth Day revealed

Jul 15, 2013

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications has posted a series of photos of the room where Pope Francis will stay... Read more

CNA

World Youth Day expected to boost economy in Rio de Janeiro

Jul 15, 2013

The organizers of the World Youth Day to be held next week in Brazil have sent a report on the... Read more

CNA

WYD cross and Marian icon arrive in Rio de Janeiro

Jul 10, 2013

The World Youth Day Cross and Icon of the Virgin Mary arrived July 6 in Rio de Janeiro, where they... Read more

Pope Francis holds a June 7, 2013 audience with student from Jesuit-run schools in Italy and Albania.

Pope grants indulgences for World Youth Day

Jul 9, 2013

Pope Francis will grant a plenary indulgence – a remission of all temporal punishment due to sin – to World... Read more