Posted July 29, 2013

World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, had to be considered a rousing success by organizers. From the 400,000 young people who attended the opening ceremony to the thousands who attended conferences to the individual encounters of people from all over the world to the 3 million gathered for Mass celebrated by Pope Francis on Copacabana Beach in Rio, WYD was a life-changing event for many of the participants. This photo gallery by Catholic News Service photographers captures some of the moments of the July 22-28 event.

  • Youths wearing souvenir miters wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at Quinta da Boa Vista park, where the pope heard the confessions of five World Youth Day pilgrims, July 26 in Rio de Janeiro. (CNS photo/Paulo Whitaker, Reuters)

  • Pilgrims pack Copacabana beach for the World Youth Day closing Mass in Rio de Janeiro July 28. In attendance was an estimated 3 million people — one of the largest crowds in the history of World Youth Day. (CNS photo/Stefano Rellandini, Reuters)

  • Pope Francis wears an Indian headdress presented to him by members of the Pataxo tribe of Brazil July 27 in Rio de Janeiro. The pope greeted the tribal members as he met with political, economic and cultural leaders at Rio’s Municipal Theater. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano)

  • Pope Francis kisses a baby as he arrives at the archbishop’s palace in Rio de Janeiro July 26. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis speaks with residents during a visit to a home in the Varginha slum in Rio de Janeiro July 25. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)

  • Pope Francis kisses a baby while riding in the popemobile along Copacabana beach on his way to the Way of the Cross during World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro July 26. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano) (July 27, 2013

  • Pope Francis hears the confession of a young woman during World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro July 26. Portable confessionals were set out in several public places for pilgrims attending World Youth Day. Five young people had the opportunity to take part in the sacrament of reconciliation with Pope Francis. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano)

  • Pope Francis greets pilgrims as he arrives in a rainstorm at Brazil’s Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida July 24. During his visit, the pope entrusted World Youth Day to Mary’s maternal protection, but also challenged parents, priests and other adult Catholics to give the young people things that the world, with all its wealth, cannot: faith and values. (CNS photo/Stefano Rellandini, Reuters)

  • Pope Francis embraces a patient at St. Francis of Assisi Hospital in Rio de Janeiro July 24. The pope addressed a group of recovering drug addicts, offering them a message of compassion and hope as well as a call to self-determination. (CNS photo/Reuters)

  • Pope Francis is embraced by a woman during a visit with residents at a home in the Varginha slum in Rio de Janeiro July 25. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)

  • Pope Francis blesses a boy in the Varginha slum in Rio de Janeiro July 25, during his weeklong visit to Brazil for World Youth Day. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis swings a censer as he sanctifies the altar during the World Youth Day closing Mass on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro July 28. During the service, the pope commissioned an estimated 3 million people in attendance to become missionaries without borders. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis blesses Walmyr Junior, 28, during a meeting with political, economic and cultural leaders at Municipal Theater in Rio de Janeiro July 27. The young man, who overcame drug abuse and is now a youth minister, shared his story of life transformation — his discovery of a loving God and church. (CNS photo/Paul Haring

  • Polish pilgrims in Rio de Janeiro cheer as Pope Francis announces that World Youth Day 2016 will take place in Krakow, Poland. The pope made the announcement at the conclusion of the closing Mass of World Youth Day on Copacabana beach July 28. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pilgrims wait for Pope Francis to lead the Angelus from the balcony of the archbishop’s palace in Rio de Janeiro July 26. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • World Youth Day pilgrims hold rosaries and icons as they wait for Pope Francis to arrive to the Municipal Theater in Rio de Janeiro July 27. The pope addressed Brazilian political, economic and cultural leaders at the theater. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pilgrims kneel in prayer during the closing Mass of World Youth Day on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro July 28. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)

  • World Youth Day pilgrims hold up a puppet resembling Pope Francis at the World Youth Day welcome ceremony on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro July 25. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pilgrims crowd Copacabana beach as Pope Francis celebrates the closing Mass of World Youth Day July 28 in Rio de Janeiro. During the service the pope commissioned an estimated 3 million people in attendance to become missionaries without borders. (CNS photo/Paulo Whitaker, Reuters)

  • Sister Jesus Juana Dias, a Missionary Sister of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from Puerto Rico, walks through the center of Rio de Janeiro in the morning July 27 as pilgrims make their way to Copacabana beach for the World Youth Day vigil service with Pope Francis. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)

  • Sister “CC” Celeste Mahealani Cabral, right, of the Diocese of Honolulu, and Malcolm Zara hold a banner with the Hawaiian greeting “Aloha” during a special service July 24 at the Rio Vivo Welcome Center in Rio de Janeiro. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)