The official logo of the 2013 WYD was launched in Rio de Janeiro on 7 February 2012. The great statue of Christ the Redeemer that dominates the metropolis was illuminated with the colours of the Brazilian flag for the occasion.
The logo was inspired by the bible verse from Matthew 28:19: Go and make disciples of all nations! As the risen Jesus appeared to his disciples on a mountain and sent them forth on mission, so Christ the Redeemer on the hill of Corcovado, the symbol of Rio, will repeat the Lord’s mandate to young people taking part in WYD so that they will go forth and proclaim the Gospel all over the earth.
The elements of the logo come together to form the shape of a heart. This is a disciple’s heart in which Jesus is to be found at its centre. Christ’s arms extend beyond the image of the heart. They reach out in welcome to all people, and in a special way to the young people going to WYD in Rio. These open arms also represent the welcome and hospitality of the Brazilian people.
The green part at the top reminds us of the Sugarloaf mountain, the other universal symbol of Rio de Janeiro. The cross is a reminder that the first name given to Brazil when it was discovered in 1500 was “Land of the Holy Cross”. The other parts of the logo are coloured blue – representing the coastline of the city – and also yellow. Green, yellow, blue and white are the colours of the Brazilian flag.
The winner of the logo competition is 25-year-old Gustavo Huguenin. He is from Cantagalo in the diocese of Nova Friburgo in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Gustavo has a degree in graphic design. He was brought up a Catholic and he now takes part in a Catholic Charismatic Renewal prayer group.
The young graphic designer said: “I am thrilled that my work will be used for the biggest Catholic event in the world, and especially because the pope will be there. I am also delighted that the logo will be associated with the personal encounter that young people from all over the world will have with Jesus Christ at the Rio WYD in 2013. I am really happy to be a young person with an opportunity to tell the whole world about the joy to be found in belonging to the holy Catholic Church”.
Archbishop Orani Tempesta of Rio said that “there is a heart in Rio that is beating strongly, and it says: come and have this experience with God!”
Those present at the launching ceremony included, in addition to the archbishop of Rio, the two vice-presidents of the Local Organising Committee – Bishop Paulo César Costa and Bishop Antonio Dias Duarte. There were also over one hundred bishops, including Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno, president of the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference, and Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops.
