It seems everywhere you turn these days, Rio is front and center stage to some major world cultural or sporting event. Well this past week, the city's pristine beaches along the famed Copacabana hosted Pope Francis and some 3 million Catholics, who made the pilgrimage to Brazil for World Youth Day 2013. For two days, our little family was blessed to have front row seats for the Papal parades, the opening prayer service, and the live enactment of the Way of the Cross--all from our 22nd floor hotel room. This experience is surely one we will cherish for a lifetime!
Enjoy the photos!
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| The hotel window even opened up, so we were treated to concerts each night. |
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Sharing in this experience with Graham--even though he will surely never remember! My parents took my sister and I to see Pope John Paul when he visited New Orleans in 1987.
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| The cross from the previous photo was hung on the alter. |
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Each evening Pope Francis was flown in on a helicopter to the nearby military base before parading along the 2.5 mile stretch of Copacabana. It was quite impressive to see the throngs of people flood the streets and beaches!
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| Huge projector screens were set up adjacent to the stage, so we were able to watch the Holy Father's entire procession from the military base until his convoy made their way to the main staging area. |
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| And he is almost to us! |
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| This was right before Pope Francis made his way to the alter. |
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| The red and blue illuminated areas were the stages for last two Stations of the Cross before the procession made its way to the main stage in front of the Holy Father. |
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| Members of the Brazil Navy participated in the Way of the Cross procession...how refreshing! |
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| Pope Francis was so gracious as this little boy raced up the alter and past the body guards to embrace him. The crowd erupted in cheers! Definitely a goose-bump moment for me! |
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| The locals set up tents and prepared delicacies to sell to the tourists in the area. |
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| Graham taking in all of the excitement! |
