The rector of the sanctuary agreed to the Swifties' request on the condition that they raise funds to buy food and drinks to give to the homeless on the Catholic Church's World Day of the Poor, which took place on Sunday.

In one day of crowdfunding, fans raised about 180,000 reais (NZ$61,254), which covered the cost of 20,000 loaves of panettones, a traditional sweet yeast bread, and bottled water for Rio's homeless. Read more

It has been used for many promotional events in the past, including campaigns by climate activists.

Cancer patients and survivors gathered at the foot of the statue for a ceremony on Tuesday, holding candles and listening to speeches. Many of them wore T-shirts that featured the name of the non-profit Fundacao Laco Rosa or Pink Loop Foundation, which organises the Rio event annually.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organised by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research.

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Police say Cardinal Orani Joao Tempesta was travelling in a chauffeur-driven vehicle with two friends when the attack occurred on Sunday.

The thieves made off with the vehicle.

Brazilian media say the cardinal was returning from Mass when the carjacking took place.

Sunday's was the second armed attack against Cardinal Tempesta in the past year.

In September, three armed men stopped his car and stripped him of his cellphone, a crucifix and the cameras of a photographer travelling with him.

Most of the stolen items were later recovered.

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In his homily on the WYD theme, "Go and make disciples of all nations", local Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta invited the young people to be missionaries.

"This week Rio has become the centre of the Church, its heart both youthful and vibrant," he said. "You have come from all over the world to share together in the faith and the joy of being disciples and missionaries in all nations."

Though Copacabana is better known for hosting millions of revellers during the annual New Year's Eve celebrations, the archbishop compared it to the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

"The sea, the sand, the beach and the crowd remind us of the call of the other disciples,"
he said, and Christ "invites us for a swim in deep waters, the waters of our baptism".

Archbishop Tempesta encouraged the pilgrims to participate in their communities "with enthusiasm", making it an opportunity of "coexisting with our brothers and sisters, witnessing that another world is possible".

At dusk, the large stage dominated by a blue cross was lit up with the colours of the Brazilian flag. Silence greeted the arrival of the WYD Cross and an image of the Virgin Mary, carried in procession by young people from the five continents.

The huge congregation assembled despite heavy winter rains that swept through Rio and a breakdown in the city's subway system that led to serious traffic jams.

As is customary, Pope Francis did not participate in the opening ceremony, but a Vatican spokesman confirmed that he watched the event on television and was impressed by the size of the congregation braving the rain.

The WYD gathering will include catechetical presentations by 250 different bishops, drawn from all around the world, in a score of languages.

Sources:

Catholic News Agency

Vatican Information Service

Image: KQED

Some four million young people from around the world are expected to attend the event, from July 23 to 28.

The theme for the gathering will be Jesus' command, "Go and make disciples of all peoples".

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Standing 45 metres high, the tallest Marian statue is on a 3650-metre mountain south of La Paz, the country's second largest city.

Dedicated to Our Lady of Socavon, it stands nearly 7 metres taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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The theme for the 28th WYD is "Go and make disciples of all nations". Discounted prices from $NZ60 to $NZ350 will be available until January 31, 2013.

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