The young people of the Focolare Movement will take part in WYD as members of regional or national groups organized by local churches. Some are collaborating directly as members of the organizing committee of the event. Others are among the 60,000 volunteers at the service of participants and some will also animate cathecetical sessions.
The young people of the Movement will be presenting the life of Focolare’s own Blessed Chiara Luce Badano, the young girl who was beatified in 2010 and who will be one of the leading figures of this World Youth Day.
They will also present the United World Project, the Sophia University Institute, and the Escola Civitas promoted by youth involved in politics.
Blessed Chiara
For more than a year, a group has been working on “A santidade veste jeans”, a show about the life of Chiara Luce. Maria Teresa and Ruggero Badano, the parents of Chiara Luce will attend the film, which will take place on July 24 at 15.00hrs and at 18.00hrs at the Grand Auditorium of “Cidade das Artes”, at Barra da Tijuca. A half million copies of the book “25 minutos: a vida de Chiara Luce Badano” written by Franz Coriasco, an agnostic friend of hers, will be distributed.
Gen Rosso
The musical group Gen Rosso, who has been touring Brazil for over a month, will present their show “Dimensione indelebile” at the Conference Centre “Rio Centro” on July 24 at 20.00hrs. The Gen Rosso also forms part of the group of over 50 artists who will animate the programme of July 27 when all the young people will gather at Guaratiba for the evening vigil with the Holy Father. During this event, they will present a piece of “Streetlight”, which involves some 200 youngsters from various associations active in the treatment of addictions.
Interreligious dialogue
In the context of WYD, an interreligious meeting has been planned for 200 delegates from all over Brazil. Its goal is to make known the initiatives that already exist to promote dialogue and to discuss concrete actions. This meeting will take place on the morning of July 21 at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janiero. The Focolare Movement is participating in the organization of this event and some delegates will be taking part in it.
There will also be the round table conference promoted by the young people of Religions for Peace Global Youth Network. The theme will be “Go and build peace in all nations” and this will be held at “Irmandade do Espírito Santo de Estácio de Sá”, on July 24 at 18.00hrs.
