MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Millions expected in Brazil for Pope Benedict XVI visit

Pope Benedict XVI coming visit to Brazil from May 9 to 13 is expected to attract millions of faithful and tourists which will spend in the order of 22 million Euros in Sao Paulo according to estimates from the city's Tourist Office.

The Pope is scheduled to spend three days in Brazil's main commercial and industrial city and the canonizing mass for Frei Galvao is expected to convene over a million people, estimates the Brazilian national conference of Bishops, CNBB. Benedict XVI will also hold a meeting with Brazilian youth and delegations from Latinamerica in one of the city's main soccer stadiums, Pacaembu. Another paramount moment of the Pope's visit will take place on May 12 when he will visit the city of Aparecida, seat of the V general Conference of the Latinamerican and Caribbean Episcopate which Benedict XVI will open the following day. Sao Paulo authorities are spending millions in tiding and preparing the city for his Holiness visit and over a thousand municipal staff has been committed to the organization of the different events during the papal visit. Vatican officials and Brazilian federal authorities are wrapping up security details for the Pope's visit to the country with the world's largest Catholic population.