Pope Francis arrived in Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day, marking his first international trip as pontiff. The visit also represented his return to South America, his home continent. He was greeted by massive crowds of Roman Catholics who lined the streets to see him travel in the Popemobile. Although the main World Youth Day events officially ran from July 23 to July 28, the arrival set the tone for the week-long celebration. The event highlighted Pope Francis’s popularity early in his papacy. It was the second World Youth Day held in South America. Millions of pilgrims from around the world traveled to Brazil for the gathering.
