How could it be otherwise? With all the excitement that Pope Francis stirred up in his homeland and given the country’s proximity to Brazil, Argentina’s volunteer corps for the next World Youth Day is the largest, after Brazil’s.
At the end of the admissions process for volunteers, 463 young Argentines are already enrolled and have tasks assigned by the Organizing Committee of Rio de Janeiro.
According to reports by the Argentine news agency AICA, most Argentine volunteers are stationed at information booths, pilgrim kit distribution stations, and cultural events.
Many others will work in helping people with disabilities, logistics, the transportation of the bishops and the catechesis that they will provide, the accreditation of the clergy or communications tasks, as well as the Vocations Fair, transport area, Campus Fidei lots and stores, in Guaratiba, and in translation work.
Poland gives a surprise
Long-term volunteers, mostly Brazilians, have been working in Rio de Janeiro since the beginning of 2013. Short-term volunteers, who will be working from July 23 to 28, will receive accelerated training from July 15 to 21, which is the day before the start of the activities.
According to official figures, the country with the next largest group of volunteers after Argentina is Colombia, with 309 volunteers; Mexico, with 240; Peru, with 153; Venezuela, with 124; Paraguay, with 108, the United States, with 103; Ecuador, with 96; Spain, with 88; and Chile, with 85. Of particular note is Poland, ranking in at 162 volunteers.
Along with hundreds of Brazilians, they will be one of the largest groups in WYD history.
And today we celebrate...