RIO DE JANEIRO — As Pope Francis readied for his final Mass for World Youth Day on Sunday at Copacabana beach, hundreds of thousands of Catholics woke up in the white sand after an all-night beach party.
Many of the young people had stayed behind after an estimated three million crammed onto the iconic beach Saturday night for a vigil by Francis, whose Mass on Sunday is expected to draw an even larger crowd.
Groups of pilgrims slept on the adjacent street, pitching tents, while others unrolled sleeping bags and slept under the stars.
"Normally, I'd be complaining … but it's the ambiance. I'm excited, full of energy" said Eleazar Reyes, an 18-year-old student from Union City, NJ, whose mother made and sold pastries and empanadas to help pay for his pilgrimage to Rio with two siblings.
He considered the discomfort with staying outside on a chilly night as a way "to see that I'm not alone in my faith," and to "receive words of enlightenment from the pope."
STORY: Pope Francis to bishops: Get out of your churches
Catholic pilgrims, who spent the night sleeping at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, start waking up on Sunday.(Photo: Christophe Simon, AFP/Getty Images)
Celebrating Mass on Copacabana beach is the final event of World Youth Day, a biannual gathering of young Catholics. It also marks the final day of Pope Francis' first foreign trip.
The trip has been highlighted by strong outpourings of support as Francis rode through the streets of Rio in a simple Fiat — forgoing a luxury car or limousine — and leaving the bulletproof popemobile used for tours back at the Vatican.
Francis also made strong statements: calling for the world to show solidarity with the poor; telling kids to "make a mess" in their dioceses as they go back to their countries and live their faith; and urging prelates to leave their parishes more often in an effort to meet people where they are.
His words found favor with many attendees.
"This guy is saying we can no longer wait for people to come to the church," said Gabriel Camacho, a seminary student from Guam.
"People don't go to church because it's boring. I agree with them," he added. "We have to reach out to youth."
Many of the young people had stayed behind after an estimated three million crammed onto the iconic beach Saturday night for a vigil by Francis, whose Mass on Sunday is expected to draw an even larger crowd.
Groups of pilgrims slept on the adjacent street, pitching tents, while others unrolled sleeping bags and slept under the stars.
"Normally, I'd be complaining … but it's the ambiance. I'm excited, full of energy" said Eleazar Reyes, an 18-year-old student from Union City, NJ, whose mother made and sold pastries and empanadas to help pay for his pilgrimage to Rio with two siblings.
He considered the discomfort with staying outside on a chilly night as a way "to see that I'm not alone in my faith," and to "receive words of enlightenment from the pope."
STORY: Pope Francis to bishops: Get out of your churches
Celebrating Mass on Copacabana beach is the final event of World Youth Day, a biannual gathering of young Catholics. It also marks the final day of Pope Francis' first foreign trip.
The trip has been highlighted by strong outpourings of support as Francis rode through the streets of Rio in a simple Fiat — forgoing a luxury car or limousine — and leaving the bulletproof popemobile used for tours back at the Vatican.
Francis also made strong statements: calling for the world to show solidarity with the poor; telling kids to "make a mess" in their dioceses as they go back to their countries and live their faith; and urging prelates to leave their parishes more often in an effort to meet people where they are.
His words found favor with many attendees.
"This guy is saying we can no longer wait for people to come to the church," said Gabriel Camacho, a seminary student from Guam.
"People don't go to church because it's boring. I agree with them," he added. "We have to reach out to youth."