JONATHON NOONE
Staff and students from Brisbane’s Catholic Archdiocese are attending the closing day of the week long World Youth Day festival in Rio de Janeiro.
Archbishop Mark Coleridge is accompanying staff and students from Brisbane Catholic Education, St Columban’s College, and members of the Archdiocese in this annual celebration.
Communications and Media Manager of the Brisbane Archdiocese John Phelan says the group only includes a small number of school-aged students, while the larger part of the group are adults aged 18 to 30 years.
“The event is particularly aimed at this age group,” Mr Phelan says.
“This World Youth Day is especially important with the presence of the new Pope.
“It’s a great opportunity for the group to celebrate being apart of the Catholic Church and hearing the future direction of the Church.”
Pope Francis addressed an estimated crowd of two million people at Rio’s Copacabana beach over the weekend.
The speech featured a special message for Brazilians who have participated in violent protests against government corruption and misuse of public funds in recent months.
Pope Francis urged young people to exercise ‘a Christian response’ in voicing social and political concerns.
He also announced the next World Youth Day will be held in Krakow, Poland in 2016.