MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Defying the weather, 1.5 million turn out to greet Francis as Copacabana beach

View of Copacabana beach during Pope Francis visit

A huge crowd estimated in 1.5 million people defied rain and chilly weather to greet Pope Francis on Rio do Janeiro’s Copacabana beach on Thursday. With his captivating charisma Francis repeated a theme of his visit to Brazil urging young Catholics to shun the trappings of materialism and put Jesus Christ at the center of their lives.

“Possessions, money and power can give a momentary thrill, the illusion of being happy, but they end up possessing us and making us always want to have more, never satisfied,” he said.

It was a full day of activities for Latin America's first pope who was confronted with the contrasting images of life in the world famous sun-worshipping metropolis, from its ritzy seafront to the impoverished hillside favelas where 25% of the city’s population lives.

After arriving by helicopter, Francis was driven in the open ‘pope mobile’ along the 4 kilometres of the beach, breaking protocol and stopping many times to greet the excited crowd that gave him a rapturous reception.
 

In his welcome to pilgrims who have travelled to Rio for World Youth Day, he again implored the faithful to do their bit in creating a more just world. His remarks were the centrepiece of the spectacular show on a stage built on the Copacabana's drenched and wind-swept white sands.
 

Groups resembling Olympic delegation were holding up the flags of their countries and many were carrying the distinct World Youth Day backpacks in yellow, green or blue, the colours of the host-country's flag.
 

Big screens were set up on the sand and the rain stopped just before the event.

”I always heard that the Cariocas (Rio residents) didn't like cold and rain. Your faith is stronger than cold and rain. Congratulations,” the pope said after being treated to religious choirs, samba songs and dance routines.
 

Meanwhile, bad weather has forced this weekend's events to be moved from a drenched farm on the outskirts of Rio. A site set up at a farm on the western outskirts of the city for Saturday's vigil and Sunday's service, where up to 2 million people are expected, was covered with mud and puddles after two days of relentless rain.

The authorities have announced that these events will now also take place at Copacabana beach.