A quarter of a million people have already started the registration process
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In recent weeks, increasing numbers of young people from around the world have registered for World Youth Day (WYD), which will be held in Rio de Janeiro from 23 to 28 July.
Aleteia has been able to receive the latest update from the team in charge of the event’s registration system. There are already 243,557 young pilgrims who have begun the registration process. The number of those who have already completed the entire application process is 173,026.
These were the two numbers that the local organization committee for WYD received in a cell phone message. The committee, which is chaired by Archbishop Orani João Tempesta, Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, landed in Rome this past May 23.
Among other appointments, the local organizing committee will meet this Friday with Pope Francis to update him on the latest developments in preparation for his first international trip as successor to the Apostle Peter.
“Preparations are well underway, and we are very pleased with the response of the youth,” Archbishop Tempesta told Aleteia a few hours after landing in Rome.
Bishop Antônio Augusto Dias Duarte, Vice President of the WYD Local Organizing Committee, said that in recent days, the number of subscribers has increased notably, which is why he said we can expect a significant increase in the next few weeks as well.
In the history of this conference, experience has shown that there are usually three or four times more participants at the event than those who are registered. For this reason, we can estimate that there may be two million participants.
The country with the largest number of participants is Brazil, followed by Argentina (a neighboring country and Pope Francis’ homeland) and the United States. This time, the participation of young people in Europe – particularly in Italy, Spain, and Portugal – will be low because of the economic crisis, although it will still be significant.
“It will be the biggest and most joyful party of faith that we have ever lived,” concluded Bishop Antônio Augusto Dias Duarte, Auxiliary Bishop of Rio de Janeiro, recalling that Brazilians are characterized by a very festive and dynamic faith.
