Post date: Jul 28, 2013 3:51:15 PM
Pope Francis presides over mass in Rio de Janeiro as last day of World Youth Day kicks off with Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez and Bolivia's President Evo Morales among world leaders present.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (JULY 28, 2013) (REUTERS) - More than a million Catholic faithful flocked to Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach on Sunday (July 28) to be part of a final mass given by Pope Francis on his last day of his week-long trip to Brazil centred on World Youth Day.
Thousands camped on the beach and adjacent pavement to reserve their positions for the morning mass presided by the Argentine pontiff.A sea of "pilgrims" woke with the sun and waited to see the pope on the final day of his first trip abroad since ascending to the papacy in March.
Followers here told Reuters it was well worth spending the night in the sand despite unseasonably chilly and windy weather.
"I spent the night here. It was nice and went just fine. Everyone here is joyous, it is the spirit of the pilgrim," send 19-year-old student, Elaine Costa.
"For me today is a once in a lifetime thing. I thank God I am alive to be able to experience this marvel, to see people from so many countries holding hands with just one heart, one love with this divine grace of our pope who shows so much love, so much charity, so it is worth whatever sacrifice just to be here," said 48-year-oldMaria de Fatina Cardoso.
Once again the smiling pope was greeted by throngs of adoring followers after he took a short helicopter ride to the famed beach.
After landing at the Copacabana Fort he rode his open-sided popemoblie past thousands of waving and screaming supporters stopping frequently to kiss babies and shake hands with people in the crowd.
One man was overcome with emotion when the Argentine pope paused to embrace him.
At one point the pope accepted a mate tea drink, traditional to his native Argentina, drinking the hot beverage from the typical straw as it was handed up to him from the line-up of well-wishers
On hand for the pope's final mass here was Brazilian President Dilma Rousseffwho was joined by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez and Bolivian PresidentEvo Morales.
As the pope made his way to the massive stage set up on the coast performers began the spectacle with song and dance and re-enactments.
The mood for the Sunday mass was much more tranquil and compared to other events hosted here throughout the week as pilgrims reflected on their experiences.
Since arriving to Brazil last Monday (July 22), the pope has delivered a message of solidarity to combat poverty, touted intergenerational exchanges and pushed young people to be "protagonists of change."
He also encouraged Brazil's youth, who have protested against corruption in their country, to continue their efforts to change society by fighting apathy and offering "a Christian response."
The pope is scheduled to fly out of Rio to return to the Vatican at 7:00 p.m. local time (2200 GMT) after a week-long visit stacked with events and appearances.