Our Lady of Aparecida, “patron saint of the Church and the families”, Saint Sebastian, “soldier and martyr of faith”, St Antonio de Santana Galvao, “witness of peace and charity”, St Therese of Lisieux, “patron saint of missions”, and the Blessed John Paul II, “a friend of young people”: these are the five patron saints of the World Youth Day of Rio de Janeiro (23-28 July 2013). They were announced yesterday, during a celebration in the Marian sanctuary of “Nossa Senhora da Penha”, by the archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, dom Orani João Tempesta, who is also at the helm of the WYD local organising Committee (Col). They are, the archbishop said, “men and women who, in their youth, chose the best part of life: Jesus Christ. Their story calls us to cultivate virtues and testify to everyone that holiness is possible in real life”. (continued)

Along with the patron saints, dom Orani listed more exemplary people as the “intercessors” of the WYD: St Rosa da Lima, “faithful to God’s will”, St Teresa of the Andes, “contemplative of Christ”, St Laura Vicuña, martyr of purity, the Blessed José de Anchieta, “apostle of Brazil”, the Blessed Albertina Berkenbrock, “virtuoso of evangelical values”, the Blessed Chiara Luce Badano, “devoted to Jesus”, the Blessed Irma Dulce, “ambassador of Charity”, the Blessed Adílio Daronch, “Christ’s friend”, the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, “fervent of love for the poor and the Church”, the Blessed Isidoro Bakanja, “martyr of the scapular”, the Blessed Federico Ozanam, “servant of the poorest”, St George, “fighter of evil”; St Andrea Kim and his companions, “martyrs of evangelisation”. “They are saints and blessed - father Eric Jacquinet, director of the Youth section of the Pontifical Council for the Lay, comments with SIR - who reminds us of such virtues as the great faith, charity, joy, the testimony, the mission, love for the poor, that are more relevant and necessary than ever. Hopefully, the young of the world will learn more about them and will follow their example to get ready for the Rio Days as best as they can”.