Pope opens Catholic World Youth Day in “Favela”

Pope Francis driving around Copacabana

Pope Francis has officiated the opening of the greeting ceremony for Catholic World Youth Day in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on his fourth day tour.

The pontiff who arrived by chopper, was driven in a Popemobile along the beach making several stopovers to greet the jubilant crowds. Pilgrims traveled from far and from neighboring countries to have the blessings from the head of the Catholic Church following his program to have the celebrations near a slum town also known as favela in Brazilian terms. The pope waved and greeted his followers who lined the streets in waiting to have a glimpse of him.

The Spartan pope chose to visit the favela in order to identify with the common people especially the poor. Over 1 m youth pilgrims were said to have attended the event. The jubilant pilgrims who talked to reporters expressed their joy and trust in the pope who is seen as a leader to revive the church.

“I came from Argentina to see my former archbishop” said one of the faithful. Clad in rain coats and some carrying umbrellas, many enthusiastic youth were seen expressing their joy.

The pope first addressed his fellow countrymen from Argentina before travelling to Copacabana. While addressing Argentine faithful in Rio’s cathedral, the pope told pilgrims to take to the streets and "stir things up".

"I expect a messy World Youth Day. But I want things messy and stirred up in the congregations; I want you to take to the streets. I want the Church to take to the streets," said the pope. The pope’s message comes at a time when the Catholic Church is strategizing to revamp its message to include the emphasis of salvation on earth.

Earlier before the meeting with Argentines, Pope Francis blessed the new altar at a local church and greeted locals with a kiss who lined Varginha streets.

After his arrival at Copacabana, Pope Francis left his Popemobile and strolled on the street, making several stopovers to bless children with a kiss on the forehead. The catholic head also blessed bottles of water for his followers.

Pope Francis blessing babies

The pope addressed the multitudes from a podium on a muddy pitch amid loud cheers. Starting to address the congregation the pontiff cracked a joke saying "I've always heard that Cariocas did not like the cold or the rain. But you are showing your faith is stronger. Well done!”

He said that no "pacification effort" would last if society ignored the poor and abandoned them. He also appealed to the rich and the authorities to fight the economic divide between the rich and poor.

Security was beefed up in Manguinhos favela, one of the many hillside slums surrounding Rio de Janeiro. Several armed personnel were seen on high alert both in and around Varginha, a recently "pacified" slum-town. The slum was previously referred to as the Gaza Strip because of drug violence.

Favela

Prior to his arrival the police with the help of the military mounted a series of operations in some of the more anarchic favelas such as Varginha to check on criminal gangs and drug dealers said to control colossal chunks of these communities.

Brazil has one of the largest slums favelas in the world, where the poor live. Official statistics show that, more than 20% of the population of Rio lives in favelas. The conditions are so bad with people living in abject poverty. Favelas are also characterized by high crime rate, filthy conditions and drug use.

Meanwhile, terrible weather due to unrelenting rain has forced this weekend's events to be moved from a wet farm on the suburb of Rio to Copacabana according to authorities.  The western outskirts of the Rio had been prepared for Saturday's vigil and Sunday's Mass. Over 2 m people are expected to attend.