Pope Francis Arrives in Rio
Today: Daily
http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-daily/pope-francis-to-arrive-in-rio-world-youth-day/
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Marking his first major
international trip since becoming pontiff on March 13th, Pope Francis will
arrive in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, July 22nd for the 2013 World Youth Day
(WYD), a six-day event organized by the Catholic Church expected to draw 2.5
million pilgrims to the city.
Before leaving Rome, during
his Sunday Angelus message, Pope Francis addressed the groups gathered in St.
Peter’s Square, asking the faithful to pray for him while in Brazil.
“I ask you to accompany me spiritually in prayer during my
first apostolic journey that starts tomorrow. As you know, I will travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, until the 28th for World
Youth Day.”
The Pope is scheduled to arrive at Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão/Antonio Carlos Jobim
International Airport, at approximately 4PM. There, he will be met by an
official reception. Pope Francis will then attend the Papal Welcoming Ceremony
held at the Palácio Guanabara, Rio state’s
government headquarters.
Among the 650 guests for the ceremony are Brazilian
President Dilma Rousseff, Vice President Michel Temer and Rio de Janeiro
Governor Sérgio Cabral.
O Globo reported on Saturday, July 20th that the Pope’s
Welcoming Ceremony would cost the government R$850,000. This news comes after Brazil
saw massive demonstrations over public spending on international events, among
others, in June.
When asked for her thoughts about possible protests during
WYD events, Rio resident and pilgrim, Aline
Rodrigues told The Rio Times that she is not concerned about demonstrations. “I
am not worried. It is an event driven by Christian faith, guided by the holy
spirit. The greatest teachings that Jesus left us will be in practice, this
love will live intensely,” she said.
The Rio Times
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Exploring the Historic Churches of Rio
http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-real-estate/exploring-the-historic-churches-of-rio/
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With the 2013 World Youth Day (WYD)
arriving on July 23rd, some of Rio’s fantastic
religious architecture will be must-sees for many visitors. Neighborhoods like
Centro and Penha offer a glimpse at some of the grandest churches in the world,
many of which are off the usual tourist path.
Located on historic Rua Dom Gerardo in Centro, the Mosteiro
de São Bento (Monastery of Saint Benedict) is one of Rio’s
first monasteries, almost as old as the city itself. Founded in 1590 by two
monks from Bahia, construction was completed
in 1671 under the direction of military engineer Francisco de Frias da
Mesquita.
Despite its simple facade, the interior of the chapel is an
impressive monument to the talho dourado (gilded) style of architecture
imported by the Portuguese during the 17th century, wrought with Portuguese
tile and ornate wood carvings covered in gold.
Sunlight illuminates the sanctuary through a skylight, and
monks fill the golden halls with Gregorian chants during morning and evening
services, which are open to the public and performed in Portuguese.
“If I was a peregrine coming to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day, I would
definitely go to Mosteiro de São Bento. It’s one of the most beautiful places
in the city,” said 24 year-old Renata Palhares, a Catholic resident in Rio who works in film.
Sitting atop Morro do Cariri in Penha, Nossa Senhora da
Penha (Our Lady of Penha), popularly known as Igreja da Penha (Penha Church),
may be difficult to reach, but it certainly is worth the trip. Visitors who
brave the steps or take the cable car are rewarded with a stunning view of the
city and a chance to explore the 17th century sanctuary.
At the foot of the stairs is a souvenir shop where
worshipers can buy wax body parts to leave in a museum room upstairs as a
tribute to Nossa Senhora da Penha, who is said to have first revealed herself
in 1434 to a French monk on a mountain called Penha da França in northern Spain.
The museum features an interesting collection of religious
and historical items, including slavery artifacts from the quilombo (community
of escaped slaves), that once inhabited Penha.
After two years of construction, Santuário e Convento do
Santo Antônio, located near Largo da Carioca in Centro, recently reopened its
doors in celebration of Dia do Santo Antônio on Friday, June 14th.
Besides being known for its talho dourado decor and beautiful
18th century sacristy, considered by some to be the best in the city, the
sanctuary and convent are revered by worshipers of Saint Anthony, who pray to
the patron saint of marriage to find a spouse, pay off debts, buy a house, land
a job, or pass the concurso (public service exam).
In fact, the governor of Rio de Janeiro once prayed to the
saint for protection in 1710 when the city was sieged by French pirates, and,
following the victory of the Brazilian forces, promoted a statue of Saint
Anthony to the rank of captain of infantry, complete with soldier’s pay to be
donated to the convent. The statue was placed at the entrance to the Convento
do Santo Antônio in 1781, where it can still be seen today.
Pope Francis launches crusade against social inequalities
and injustice
http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/07/23/inenglish/1374594398_979877.html
The arrival of Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro on Monday – his first visit
abroad since his election in March – was filled with confusion, security
breaches and tense moments as thousands of Brazilians swarmed the pontiff’s
vehicle to greet him as it entered the center of the city.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio refused to use the traditional,
armored Popemobile, instead opting for a small Fiat Idea with a reduced number
of bodyguards to escort him as he made his way to the governor’s palace.
That, plus the fact that the driver lost his way and drove
into a mass gathering of well-wishers, produced heightened moments of tension
as thousands of people swarmed the vehicle forcing it to a full halt. The
pope’s Vatican security detail had to
literally push back the crowds, who were trying to touch the pontiff.
In the end, the pope and his staff flew by helicopter to the
Guanabara Palace,
the seat of the Rio de Janeiro
state government – although they did end up arriving 50 minutes late.
Flanked by President Dilma Rousseff and local officials,
Pope Francis reminded young Brazilians of the social problems they are facing.
“You often say children are the apple of our eyes. How
beautiful this expression of Brazilian wisdom is, comparing youth with the
opening through which light enters into us, giving us the miracle of sight,” he
said.
“So my hope is that this week, each of us is open to
challenge by this provocative question: what would become of us if we did not
care for our eyes? How would we be able to move forward?”
The pope has been paying close attention to the waves of
protests that have engulfed the country since early June over the high cost of
living, social conditions and rampant public corruption. More than one million
Brazilians have taken to the streets to demonstrate in different cities.
On his way to Rio, the 76-year-old Argentinean pontiff told
reporters on board his plane that he intended to address the concerns facing
Brazilians as well as address the young people who are planning to turn out for
the biennial World Youth Day gathering.
“I ask everyone to show consideration towards each other
and, if possible, the sympathy needed to establish friendly dialogue,” he said
shortly after arriving.
The pope’s visit to Brazil is seen as an historic one
rather than a religious trip. Pope Francis, according to Vatican officials,
will use Brazil
– home to 130 million Catholics – to launch his crusade in trying to convince
governments around the world that they must do more to dismantle social
inequalities and policies of exclusion, especially in nations with vast
resources. An emerging power, Brazil
is also one of the leading countries in the world with the most social
inequalities.
The visit parallels the previous papal trip in 1979 by Karol
Wojtyla, the first pontiff to emerge from a communist nation. Back then John
Paul II used his papacy to preach against the evils of communism, which
curtailed personal liberties and violated human rights in many countries.
Pope Francis is expected to focus his papacy on ministering
to the poor and push world governments for better social welfare. Brazilian
officials hope that his message of solidarity with the poor will minimize the
possibility of major protests during his visit.
Still the pontiff has been concerned about the rise in youth
unemployment across the globe.
“I read last week about the percentage of young people
without work,” he told reporters aboard the Alitalia Airbus 330 as it crossed
the Atlantic. “We risk having a generation that
hasn't held a job. Personal dignity comes from working, from earning your daily
bread." the pope said. “Young people are in a crisis.”
Pope speaks out against legalization of drugs proposed by
some regional leaders
http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/07/25/inenglish/1374770966_326270.html
Pope Francis on Wednesday took a strong stand against the
legalization of narcotics, saying that it was not a strategy to fight drug
addiction or trafficking.
During a visit to a hospital in Rio de Janeiro that
specializes in treating addicts, the pope said that society “must be
courageous” to fight “this drug trafficking plague that only leads to violence
and sows sorrow and death.”
"A reduction in the spread and influence of drug
addiction will not be achieved by a liberalization of drug use, as is currently
being proposed in various parts of Latin America,” the pope, Jorge Mario
Bergoglio, said.
“What must be addressed are the issues that are at the basis
of drug use, including promoting greater justice, educating young people in
values that build community life, accompanying the needy and giving them hope
for the future.”
Pope Francis took on the legalization issue at a time when
debate is growing among current and former Latin American leaders, such as
Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina.
“There are many situations in Brazil, and around the world, that
need attention, care and love, such as the struggle with chemical dependency.
However, what often prevails in our society is selfishness. But there many
merchants of death who follow the logic of power and money at all cost.”
The pope is on a week-long visit to Brazil, which
will end with the celebration of World Youth Day this weekend.
Speaking in front of a group of recovering addicts, the pope
said he wanted to hug them all, but “giving hugs wasn’t enough.” According to
the Argentinean-born Bergoglio, people need to extend a hand to those who have
fallen into "the abyss of dependence.”
“Perhaps they don’t know how to do it, but they need to say
to them: you get up, you can get back on your feet; it will be tough, but only
if you really want to you can do it.”
On Tuesday, the pope met with a group of bishops whom he
charged with helping him to come up with a series of reforms for the Vatican. But
the first official day of his visit to Brazil on Wednesday was filled with
symbolism. Before his trip to the San Francisco de Asis Hospital in Rio, Pope
Francis celebrated Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida – Brazil’s patron saint – which is located some
260 kilometers from Rio.
During the open-air Mass, the pope said that the Catholic
Church should confront, without fear, the challenges of the modern world in a
positive way. “We should never lose hope. We should never turn our hearts away
from hope. The dragon, evilness, has been part of our history but it is not the
strongest. God is stronger and God is our hope.”
He also called on youths to avoid material things.
“It is true that nowadays, to some extent, everyone,
including our young people, feels attracted by the many idols which take the
place of God and appear to offer hope: money, success, power, pleasure,"
the 76-year-old pontiff said in Portuguese.
"Often a growing sense of loneliness and emptiness in
the hearts of many people leads them to seek satisfaction in these ephemeral
idols."