Mass with an estimated 3 million people made for a rousing conclusion to World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, but it was only part of a profoundly spiritual series of events featuring Pope Francis, returning to South America for the first since he was elected to the papacy in March. The former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires in neighboring Argentina rejoiced in the opportunity to speak directly to millions of the world’s youth in person, while also delivering pointed remarks to their elders in government and church leadership about their responsibilities in fostering a spirit of love, compassion and hope in the world. On these pages are some of scenes of World Youth Day.{gallery width=100 height=100}gallery/2013/0802/wydcenter/{/gallery}
