And he's off...

Pope Francis arrives in Rio in Brazil for the World Youth Day today, Monday! Let's keep the Holy Father and the hundreds of thousands of young people in our prayers this week.

You can follow the events of the week on the official website of the World Youth Day, via the WYD Facebook page ("World Youth Day") and the official Twitter feed (@wyd_en).

You can watch all of the events on the Vatican Player too.

Many young people discover their vocation in life at the World Youth Day. Let's pray for all the people who are discernign their vocation this week in Rio.

Here is the official prayer of the World Youth Day...

World Youth Day 2013 - Official Prayer

Oh Father, You sent Your Eternal Son to save the world, and You chose men and women, so that through Him, with Him and in Him, they might proclaim the Good News of the Gospel to all nations. Grant us the necessary graces, so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the joy of being the evangelists that the Church needs in the Third Millennium may shine in the faces of all young people.

Oh Christ, Redeemer of humanity, the image of Your open arms on the top of Corcovado, welcomes all people. In Your paschal offering, You led us, by the Holy Spirit, to encounter the Father as His children. Young people, who are nourished by Eucharist, who hear You in Your Word and meet You as their brother, need your infinite mercy to walk along the paths of this world as disciples and missionaries of the New Evangelization.

Oh Holy Spirit, Love of the Father and of the Son, with the splendor of Your Truth and the fire of Your Love, shed Your Light upon all young people so that, inspired by their experience at World Youth Day, they may bring faith, hope and charity to the four corners of the earth, becoming great builders of a culture of life and peace and catalysts of a new world.

Amen !