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Under the shadow marks forever
With the sign of the redeemer
On the hilltop of Corcovado
The whole world is filled with his love
Christ invites us: “Come to me be my friends
Christ sends us, Go be my missionaries!”
My young brothers Franciscans, my young brothers and sisters
All of you who are participating in this wonderful WYD here in Rio de Janeiro
I want to send you special blessings on behalf of the Franciscans who also
are participating in this great event.
We are present, we are there, we will be there the entire time because we believe too
That Christ invites us, Christ Calls us to be his disciples.
Christ calls us to be his friends. Isn’t it this wonderful invitation for all of us
To be friends with God,
and because of that friendship with God and we become friends with one another
and friends with all the creation.
This event, we wish the Holy Father, Pope Francis, who also bears a Franciscan name
And who will join us in this celebration.
Holy father we welcome you, we thank you for presence here.
May God Bless You and may you continue to call us to be authentic people of the Gospel
Invite us to be people who care for the poor, who place the needs before our needs
We are called, we are marked, these are the signs of Jesus alive in our life
and if these is anything that is needed today in our world, the world need signs.
It need sign signs of our pledge to live as men and women who are filled with hope
Who are filled with joy, who are people for reach out for one another.
Who search out for those who are lost,
Who reach down for those have been broken to raise them up.
This WYD is a celebration of all humanity and certainly for all of us Franciscans
And the entire Franciscan family who are with us today.
As we call upon God, to Bless Us, to bless you,
to Bless those who are able to come to Brazil, to Rio to this event
but also to Bless all the young people around the world
and through your gift, the gift God has given you as young disciples of Jesus
May God Call You ever more deeply into his friendship
And through this friendship, may you discover, that you have the same responsibility now
To go and to invite others into this friendship, into this discipleship.
Go and make disciples all others.
I would like just to add if I could three word from a prayer that we will use at the opening
Of the prayers of the WYD.
Our Father you sent your eternal son to save the world
and you choose men and women, so that through Him, with Him, and in Him
they might recognize the Good News of the Gospel.
O Christ redeemer of all humanity, the image of your open arm on top of Mount Corcovado
Welcomes all people. O Holy Spirit, love of the Father and the Son
With the splendor you your truth and the fire of your hearth.
May these be what give us joy, hope and courage to receive the gift of Jesus
To share and give with one another and to carry that message forward.
Go and make disciples of all people.
Christ invites us: “Come to me, be my friends, Christ sends us,
Go and be my missionaries”!
Happy WYD!