World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

About 400,000 Roman Catholics have joined a ceremony on Copacabana Beach in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro to mark the opening of World Youth Day

Catholic faithfuls carry the World Youth Day (WYD) Cross that in 1984 Pope John Paul II entrusted the youth of the world, to the stage before the start of the WYD opening mass, at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 23, 2013

 
 Bishops wearing plastic rain hoods attend the World Youth Day inaugural Mass on Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, July 23, 2013

July 23,2013 Tuesday's evening Mass at Copacabana Beach was led by Rio's Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta and welcomed pilgrims to the 5-day festival, which is expected to draw about 1.5 million people from around the world

Thousands of young pilgrims gather on Copacabana Beach for a World Youth Day Mass in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, July 23, 2013

 
Thousands of youths celebrates before a mass during World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Youth from France participating in World Youth Day sing songs below Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Young pilgrims kneel at portable confessionals set up in Quinta da Boa Vista park during World Youth Day events in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, July 23, 2013