RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, August 01, 2013 (Zenit.org) - The archbishop of Rio de Janeiro is giving a positive evaluation of last week's visit from Pope Francis, saying "we managed to make a beautiful World Youth Day."
Archbishop Orani João Tempesta gave a press conference Tuesday to offer a review of World Youth Day."It is God who makes things," he said. "We had changes since the announcement that WYD would be held in Rio de Janeiro. Even the Pope changed, but we managed to make a beautiful World Youth Day and serve all youth."
The 63-year-old prelate said that Brazil's famous Copacabana beach had never witnessed "so many people at peace, happy and committed to building a better world."
He added that these "positive signs we saw in the youth must endure."
"We want these young people, driven by the World Youth Day, to remain players in a new world," he said.
More than 3.5 million people participated in World Youth Day Rio2013, which included events in Copacabana, the Quinta da Boa Vista, Rio Centro and various parishes in the city.
FUN FACTS:
Papal audiences:
July 23: 600,000 people attended;
July 25: 1.2 million people attended;
July 26: 2 million attended;
July 27: 3.5 million people attended;
July 28: 3.7 million people attended.
427,000 pilgrims registered, from 175 countries.
Countries with the highest number of entries: Brazil, Argentina, USA, Chile, Italy, Venezuela, France, Paraguay, Peru and Mexico.
55% of those registered were women, 45% men.
60% of the public registered were between 19 and 34 years.
There were 60,000 volunteers.
6,500 accredited journalists from 57 countries.
264 catechesis sites, in 25 languages.
100 confessionals placed in the Vocational Fair and Largo da Carioca.
4 million hosts produced
644 bishops registered, of whom 28 were cardinals.
7,814 priests registered.
632 deacons.
