Great welcoming by the team in charge to receive the Bishops coming to the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). We were asked to be patient because Pope Francis had just arrived and we would not be able to reach our destination as part of the city was closed for security reasons.
Arriving in São Paulo (Brazil) in the morning the only signs I could see of the visit of Pope Francis and the WYD were in the weekly Brazilian magazines and daily newspapers.
Arriving in São Paulo (Brazil) in the morning the only signs I could see of the visit of Pope Francis and the WYD were in the weekly Brazilian magazines and daily newspapers.
Well... not really. The other signs were the groups of people from different parts of the world who like me where connecting to Rio de Janeiro via São Paulo. There was great joy in each one of them and were also curious about each Bishop they would meet. Much more when they heard I was coming from South Africa and Swaziland.
The joy does not belong to the youth only. Bishops too look very happy! It is the opportunity to meet again some friends and to make new ones. At supper time I found myself eating with the bishop of Taiwan...!
Each Bishop was given a kit with a "Pilgrim ID", a crucifix, a guide, a T-shirt of the WYD, a cap, a refillable water bottle, a raincoat... and some material to read.
Each Bishop was given a kit with a "Pilgrim ID", a crucifix, a guide, a T-shirt of the WYD, a cap, a refillable water bottle, a raincoat... and some material to read.
