I woke up this morning on a plane with an aching back and stiff neck after an overnight flight from Miami to Rio. Little did I know then that later in the day I would see Pope Francis drive past me not more than 10 feet away.
After settling in, some friends and I took a short walk to the Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio, just down the block from where we’re staying at Rio’s Presidente Hotel. It was a beautiful neo-gothic cathedral in itself, but it wasn’t long before something else caught our eye. Throughout the day we saw small groups of pilgrims walking past our hotel. We thought nothing of it, figuring it’s about the right time to start seeing fellow pilgrims all around the city. But the crowds of them walking past us grew larger and larger, and by the time we were at the Presbyterian Cathedral they couldn’t be ignored. So we followed, and they let us to the Catholic Cathedral of St. Sebastian. The streets and overpasses all around us were lined with people waiting for the pope to drive by. We quickly found a spot, and as Pope Francis came by in the Popemobile, I knew that I can now officially say that World Youth Day had begun, even though the official ceremonies don’t start until tomorrow night.
Video of Pope Francis passing:
After settling in, some friends and I took a short walk to the Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio, just down the block from where we’re staying at Rio’s Presidente Hotel. It was a beautiful neo-gothic cathedral in itself, but it wasn’t long before something else caught our eye. Throughout the day we saw small groups of pilgrims walking past our hotel. We thought nothing of it, figuring it’s about the right time to start seeing fellow pilgrims all around the city. But the crowds of them walking past us grew larger and larger, and by the time we were at the Presbyterian Cathedral they couldn’t be ignored. So we followed, and they let us to the Catholic Cathedral of St. Sebastian. The streets and overpasses all around us were lined with people waiting for the pope to drive by. We quickly found a spot, and as Pope Francis came by in the Popemobile, I knew that I can now officially say that World Youth Day had begun, even though the official ceremonies don’t start until tomorrow night.
Video of Pope Francis passing:
World Youth Day hasn’t even officially started yet, and the pope already decided to make a surprise visit to the center of Rio and drive past the iconic, pyramid-shaped cathedral. This follows the theme of his visit; he wants to be seen as a commoner who doesn't have to announce to the world everywhere is going, he wants to be one with the people, even one with the poor. For us, the blessing of finding him was the result of our curious, rambling spirits that just wanted to explore a little. Sure, we heard a bit earlier that the pope was coming to the city today, but we didn’t know when or where. Throughout the day, we were saying, ‘Let’s go find the pope’, but only with the slightest hope that we actually would find him and get as close as we did.
After that memorable encounter, we went to the cathedral and heard rumors that he was stopping there as well. Even though he didn’t come, we did partake in a magnificent Mass with Argentine bishops and about 20,000 other pilgrims. The three of us were immersed in Hispanic culture, and loved it. The music, community, and joy all around us was contagious. It all showed how in every culture, Catholicism is a little different, yet it always retains this universal similarity with the Catholicism in other cultures.
So went the first day of World Youth Day, Rio. It feels like it has already begun, but in reality tomorrow is when the adventure officially will begin.
After that memorable encounter, we went to the cathedral and heard rumors that he was stopping there as well. Even though he didn’t come, we did partake in a magnificent Mass with Argentine bishops and about 20,000 other pilgrims. The three of us were immersed in Hispanic culture, and loved it. The music, community, and joy all around us was contagious. It all showed how in every culture, Catholicism is a little different, yet it always retains this universal similarity with the Catholicism in other cultures.
So went the first day of World Youth Day, Rio. It feels like it has already begun, but in reality tomorrow is when the adventure officially will begin.
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