Pope closed week-long world youth celebrations in Brazil

Pope Francis has closed the Catholic world youth celebrations on Copacabana beach in Brazil, with a call for faithful to get out of church and serve. The pontiff made his first foreign trip since becoming pope, amid reports of dwindling numbers of professed Catholics in Brazil from 90 to 65%.

More than 3 million people are estimated to have participated physically for the service on Copacabana beach in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The festivities were earlier shifted to the beach due to muddy conditions in the organized areas.

Several pilgrims are said to have slept on the beach after attending an all-night vigil, also led by the pope. Sunday was the end of the pontiff’s five-working day visit to Brazil.

Most of the people in attendance were youth who came from different parts of the globe to celebrate and see their leader. Both the vigil and the last Sunday mass attracted the biggest crowd ever of its kind in the Catholic history and to Copacabana beach.  The occasion saw rock concerts, New year celebrations and several sports events.

Pope Francis tasked young Catholics to get out of their limited boundaries in to reach out to others. In his words the pontiff said “Go and don't be afraid of serving”.

“Jesus did not gather the Apostles so they lived in isolation. He called them so they formed a group, a community," he added.

At the same occasion the pope announced that the next Catholic youth celebration would be held in Poland at Krakow in 2016. The date coincides with the 10^th anniversary for Pope John Paul the II

The pope flew back to the holy city on Sunday.

Demonstration

Meanwhile female activists demonstrated nearby in support of abortion and their human rights, they particularly wore T-shirts portraying the message. The pope did not directly talk about the scandals in the Catholic Church but rather talked about inefficiency leaving many unsatisfied. Also many think the pontiff has not boldly attacked the problems in the church since he has changed any of the accused priests.