CWN -
August 05, 2013
3.7 million people attended events on July 28, the final day
of World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro ,
which culminated in Pope Francis’s Sunday Mass at the waterfront of Copacabana,
according to statistics released by World Youth Day’s local organizing committee.
“Copacabana never saw so many people at peace, happy and
committed to building a better world,” said Archbishop Orani João Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro . “It was
an event without violence, depredations. And 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.”
1.2 million pilgrims attended events on July 25, 2 million
on July 26, and 3.5 million on July 27.
427,000 pilgrims from 175 nations officially registered,
with the largest contingents coming from Brazil ,
Argentina , the United States , Chile ,
Italy , Venezuela , France ,
Paraguay , Peru , and Mexico .
644 bishops, including 28 cardinals, took part in World
Youth Day, as did 7,814 priests.