The Pope leaves Spain and announced his visit to Brazil in 2013

 

Spain, August 21, 2011

 

Pope Benedict XVI said goodbye to Spain and announced in the recitation of the Angelus, the closing Mass of World Youth Day, that “next meeting will be in 2013 in Rio de Janeiro”. 

The next day was scheduled for 2014 but decided to set it for 2013 because of the World Cup in Brazil.

Pope Benedict XVI confirmed that the headquarters of the XXVIII World Youth Day (WYD) in 2013 will be held in Rio de Janeiro, saying “I am pleased to inform that the host of next the World Youth Day in 2013 will be Rio de Janeiro. Let us pray to the Lord and from this moment to assist with his strength to those who must implement it and pave the way for young people around the world so they can meet again with the Pope in this beautiful Brazilian city”.

With the delivery of the WYD Cross in the Spanish youth to Brazil, the Pope said that “everyone here trusts the great task of bringing the knowledge and love of Christ throughout the world” and “the lord wants you to be his apostles in the twenty-first century and the messengers of joy”.

The city of Rio de Janeiro is the second South American to hold the international meeting, the first was Buenos Aires in 1987, led by his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, for his initiative ‘The World Youth Days’ born in 1984.