Esperança do Amanhecer (Hino Oficial JMJ Rio 2013)

“Esperança do Amanhecer (Hino Oficial JMJ Rio 2013)” is a song that encapsulates the spirit of the World Youth Day held in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. The lyrics are imbued with a sense of mission and hope, calling upon the youth to embrace their faith and spread the message of love and unity. The song opens with a reference to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain, symbolizing Christ's embrace of the world with His love. This imagery sets the tone for the song's overarching theme of universal love and redemption.

The refrain, “Cristo nos convida: 'Venham, meus amigos!' Cristo nos envia: 'Sejam missionários!'” (Christ invites us: 'Come, my friends!' Christ sends us: 'Be missionaries!'), serves as a rallying cry for the youth to take up the mantle of spreading the Gospel. The song portrays the youth as the “springtime” and “hope of the dawn,” emphasizing their vital role in shaping a future filled with faith and unity. The lyrics express a longing for a world free of war and hatred, where goodness and peace prevail endlessly.

The song also highlights the boundless nature of God's love, describing a world without barriers or limits. This vision of a unified, loving world is sustained by God's grace, which keeps the faithful steadfast in their mission. The call to “go and make, among the nations, a new people, in unity, for me their hearts” underscores the transformative power of the Gospel. By spreading the message of Christ, the song envisions a renewal of humanity, turning the “old man into a new man” and heralding the arrival of a new world.