Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
POPE FRANCIS WILL today lead his first big mass since arriving in Brazil, officiating at the country’s most revered Catholic shrine and spreading his “church for the poor” message.
The first Latin American and Jesuit pontiff was due to arrive at 1230 GMT in Aparecida, where big crowds were waiting to get close to him for an event that Brazil’s leaders hope can steer a week-long papal visit back on course.
Rio de Janeiro’s subway broke down on Tuesday, causing chaos for throngs of pilgrims in the city for World Youth Day, a huge Catholic gathering, and a trip already marked by security lapses.
Brazil’s ability to handle this week is seen as a test of its capacity to host the football World Cup next year and the Olympic Games in 2016.
In Aparecida, a town of 35,000 people that sits halfway between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, there are huge welcome banners and the area has been spruced up.
The pope will lead mass for 15,000 people inside the basilica and for another 200,000 outside, with 5,000 police and soldiers providing security.
“The pope is the best mayor we can get — in less than a week, he managed to have the streets repaved with asphalt,” beamed local resident Maria Elena de Oliveira ahead of the event.
Pilgrims attend the World Youth Day inaugural Mass. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Advocating social and political support for the poor
After mass, the pontiff will travel in an open-top jeep to cover the more than two kilometres (1.2 mile) separating the shrine and the Bom Jesus seminary where he will rest and have lunch.
The 76-year-old Argentine previously visited the famous shrine at Aparecida — which houses a 18th-century dark statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary — during a bishops conference in 2007.
As Buenos Aires archbishop, he then chaired the panel which drafted the final document of the conference, a text with a strong social and political content in support for the poor in a region home to 40 percent of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.
The pontiff’s representatives have said the Catholic leader this week aims to reconcile the young with the message of a church able to renew itself at a time of crisis over a financial scandal and the sexual abuse of minors.
“He wanted to come to Aparecida by Marian devotion (a willingness to dedicate oneself to the Virgin Mary) and to officiate the first mass with the Brazilian people, but by visiting the shrine he is also saluting the whole region,” said priest Roni Dos Reis, a spokesman for the event.
“I think that for us, Latin Americans, here in Aparecida he will also outline this social message of commitment to the poor, to give dignity and not paternalism to people,” he added.
Faithful looking forward
Those gathered at the historic site wanted to see the pope up close.
“He is charismatic and we want to be near him to feel the quality of his spirit. It’s the way for the young to get closer to the church in Latin America,” said Emanuel Robles a 29-year-old Mexican.
Pedro Hernandez, 27, also Mexican, said: “I like his sensitivity and humility, two things which the Catholic church lacks.”
Pope Francis arrived in Rio to a rock-star welcome Monday, on his first overseas trip since his March election.
He is in Brazil mainly to join the World Youth Day celebrations, which aim to pull in 1.5 million enthusiastic Catholic youths.
Last year, 10 million pilgrims visited Our Lady of Aparecida, which was proclaimed Brazil’s patroness in 1930 and is celebrated on October 12. Francis will become the third pope to visit the shrine — after John Paul II, in July 1980, and Benedict XVI, in May 2007.
Protests over $53 million spent on organising visit
But despite his popularity, the pope has faced protests over the $53 million spent on organising his visit and World Youth Day.
Without referring to the criticism or to last month’s nationwide street protests in Brazil to demand better public services and an end to corruption, Francis said: “I have neither gold nor silver, but I bring the most precious that has been given to me, Jesus Christ.”
He called for a guarantee of basic human rights for the youths of the world, such as “security and education”.
Church for the poor? I think the poor might have had better uses for that 53million.
A good auld mass will fix everything I guess, well done Frankie boy
Is there anything to be said for another mass Ted.
He and his vile organisation has plenty of gold and silver. All those millions spent on recruiting more benefactors would have been much better spent on the poor and starving. Christianity is a particularly disgusting religion.
So true…..
If u consider the vatican a company (which it really is), it’s still one of the richest in the world!
Hardly any money is spend on the poor and needy!
If u spend some time studying the whole vatican and catholic religion u get more and more sick of all the muppets running it!
@ Peter – please will you cite some sources for these claims.
No paul,i am not gonna do that…..
Just do some research yourself,it’s not that difficult to find that information!
Even without doing some research,it’s well known that the catholic church allways has been rich.
Unless u don’t wanna see it that is ?
Look at all the land they own. No need to do research. Just have a look around…
@ Peter – I just asked you to provide evidence for two claims you made – that the Vatican is a company and that the Catholic Church spends hardly any money on the poor – a very reasonable request – yet you cannot so your ridiculous statement falls flat.
In any debate standard practice is to be able to support points you make.
Peter is right do your own research, but here’s a little tiny spade to help you start digging your head out of the sand, and it only took 3 seconds to find it, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/21/vatican-secret-property-empire-mussolini
And another http://www.cnbc.com/id/100554748 It amazes me how the ‘faithful’ think the Roman catholic church is purely some kind of religious organisation and don’t have a clue what’s really going on, if you’re going to be a member of a club, best to have at least a cursory knowledge of that club.
@ Gaius – where did I say I was or wasn’t part of the ‘faithful’?
You are jumping to conclusions without evidence.
When I see statements designed to be inflammatory on topics – in this case the Church – I challenge them and in the majority of cases, like this Peter, the case falls apart.
I didn’t see any case fall apart but yours.
It’s one thing looking for proof of something that isn’t in the public domain but when it is and you expect someone to fetch it for you .., well that’s just plain lazy and arrogant
“In Gods Name” by David Yallop
The bang of rosary beads off ya Keenan ;)
Gaius here’s another one that compares the Church to a company. But also can’t avoid the fact that they spend a huge amount on healthcare and charity (and these are only the US numbers):
@ Beabad – I don’t expect anyone to fetch anything; I merely asked for Peter to back up his statements which he has failed to do.
And you calling me lazy and arrogant for trying to continue a debate is just uncalled for.
@ Gaius – like yourself, I do contribute to several comments sections on the Journal – I believe if you were to review my comments you have no basis for what you have said.
I just said no cause it’s so well known and obvious….
You are a grown man and i am sure u know how to look up things on the internet or read about them.
Google does miracles and is very easy!
I am sure u must know these things,otherwise your head must have been in the sand for the last 10 years.
And by the way:i said,if u CONCIDER the vatican a company (which i think they are but thats MY opinion)
Basicly i just told u my opinion which i am allowed to have seeing we are finally allowed to look at the catholic church criticly and we don’t get outcasted any more for not agreeing…..
@ Peter – thanks for admitting your first statement was your opinion and not fact which of course you’re entitled to but your not entitled to present an opinion as fact (“which it really is”).
Then continue your debate because I haven’t read anything substantial from you other than your patronising attempts to correct Peters statements .
So what’s your opinion on the Catholic Church ? Do you really bang of Rosary beads ?
Peter you can say what you like , the church peddles a lot of bullshit as fact
Yet I don’t see yer man challenging its supporters here with their nonsensical facts . I agree with you Peter
And I understand perfectly where you coming from . Looking forward to reading more of your posts .
Paul,i didn’t admit anything……….??
It’s just that in order to compare things i said:”if u look at the catholic church as a company”.
Just to compare it to companies like microsoft etc….
Then i said that i do see it as a company,which in MY opinion it is…….
Why???
Cause they do own so much,land properties,and cash in banks worldwide!
That’s something everybody knows and can look up themselves.
I just don’t think you wanna see or hear things like that….
I even have a friend who is a priest and he actually says that there is so much money but so little is done with it for the people who really need it !
Pope Francis has a real chance to challenge some of the injustices in Brazilian society currently. Hopefully he takes that chance and doesn’t play the diplomat.
Protesting is the new doing nothing
@ Steve Hardy ,@ James Power, why dont you guys organise yourselves and announce a visit to some towns here in Ireland and let us hear what your message is about? I’m sure many thousands of us would be enthralled listening to you. Maybe some town Councils might even clean the gutters so that you will be speaking from familiar territory.
The tooth fairy’s representative on earth must be really envious of all the attention the pope gets
What??? Is he making a soufflé
Marriage for priests, … Woman priests…
have your say