19 Spectacular Pictures Of The Pope Celebrating World Youth Day

Young people gather at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Copacabana beachfront for the welcoming of Pope Francis to World Youth Day ceremonies.

Pope Francis is on a week-long visit to the country for World Youth Day, a biannual gathering of young Catholics.

A Catholic faithful with a sticker bearing an image of Pope Francis on his forehead waits for the pope to arrive at the beach.

Catholic pilgrims carry the World Youth Day Cross up to a stage before the arrival of Pope Francis on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro July 25, 2013.

Copacabana beach packed with Catholics waiting to hear Pope Francis.

Pope Francis arrives to celebrate at Copacabana beach.

Cheering pilgrims from 175 nations lined the beachfront drive to catch a glimpse of Francis.

Earlier in the day, the Pope was in the shanties of Rio to spread a message of solidarity with the poor.

Pope Francis reaches out from his popemobile to kiss a child as he makes his way through the crowds lining the Copacabana beachfront.

The popemobile stopped several times for Francis to kiss babies — and take a sip of his beloved maté, the traditional Argentine tea served in a gourd with a straw, that was handed up to him by someone in the crowd.

Pope Francis arrives on the popemobile at Copacabana beachfront.

Pope Francis looks up as he points to the rain on stage.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass.

People watch a video screen as Pope Francis speaks.

Pope Francis urged young Roman Catholics to spurn materialism, shake up the church, and make a "mess" in their dioceses by going out into the streets to spread the faith.

The Catholic faithful watch projections of the Pope.

Pope Francis projected onto a giant screen on Rio's Copacabana beachfront.

The trip to Brazil was his first foreign visit since becoming pope earlier this year.

"If we want to have real meaning and fulfillment, as you want and you deserve ... put on faith," he told crowds.