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| Brazil youth gathers to hear Pope | Brazil youth gathers to hear Pope |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of Brazilians are gathering at a football stadium in Sao Paulo ahead of a ceremony for young people by Pope Benedict XVI. | Thousands of Brazilians are gathering at a football stadium in Sao Paulo ahead of a ceremony for young people by Pope Benedict XVI. |
| The Pope will speak about "youth, disciples and missionaries of Jesus". | The Pope will speak about "youth, disciples and missionaries of Jesus". |
| On the second day of his visit to the world's biggest Catholic country, the Pope held a private meeting with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. | On the second day of his visit to the world's biggest Catholic country, the Pope held a private meeting with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. |
| Despite the Vatican's desire to address the divisive issue of abortion, it was not on the agenda of the talks. | Despite the Vatican's desire to address the divisive issue of abortion, it was not on the agenda of the talks. |
| "There was not a word about abortion or condoms," Brazil's ambassador to the Vatican, Vera Machado, told reporters after the meeting. | "There was not a word about abortion or condoms," Brazil's ambassador to the Vatican, Vera Machado, told reporters after the meeting. |
| Open-air Masses | Open-air Masses |
| At the start of his five-day visit, the Pope sparked controversy by stressing his strong opposition to abortion, the subject of intense debate in the country. | At the start of his five-day visit, the Pope sparked controversy by stressing his strong opposition to abortion, the subject of intense debate in the country. |
| Some Brazilians are currently pushing for the legalisation of terminations. | Some Brazilians are currently pushing for the legalisation of terminations. |
| POPE'S ITINERARY 10 May: Meets Brazilian President Lula in Sao Paulo, then Church leaders and young people11 May: Pope leads prayers around Sao Paulo13 May: Prayers and address to open Latin American bishops' conference at Aparecida Pope visit: Reporter's diary href="/1/hi/world/americas/6645057.stm">Pope visit: Diary Day Two class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6641551.stm">In pictures: Pope in Brazil | |
| Mr Lula has made it clear that he regards abortion as a public health rather than a moral issue. | Mr Lula has made it clear that he regards abortion as a public health rather than a moral issue. |
| The World Health Organisation estimates that illegal abortions numbered more than a million in Brazil last year alone. | The World Health Organisation estimates that illegal abortions numbered more than a million in Brazil last year alone. |
| The BBC's David Willey, travelling with the Pope, said the two leaders were world's apart on the emotional question of whether abortion should be legalised. | The BBC's David Willey, travelling with the Pope, said the two leaders were world's apart on the emotional question of whether abortion should be legalised. |
| Tens of thousands of young Catholics began making their way to the Pacaembu stadium ahead of the ceremony at 1800 (2100 GMT). | Tens of thousands of young Catholics began making their way to the Pacaembu stadium ahead of the ceremony at 1800 (2100 GMT). |
| Around 41,000 people have been invited to the famed football ground, but officials said they expected a further 100,000 to gather outside. | Around 41,000 people have been invited to the famed football ground, but officials said they expected a further 100,000 to gather outside. |
| The crowd is, however, likely to be dwarfed by those at two open-air Masses scheduled to be held later this week in the world's most populous Catholic nation. | The crowd is, however, likely to be dwarfed by those at two open-air Masses scheduled to be held later this week in the world's most populous Catholic nation. |
| The Pope's first Mass at Sao Paulo's Campo de Marte airport on Friday is expected to attract one million people. | The Pope's first Mass at Sao Paulo's Campo de Marte airport on Friday is expected to attract one million people. |
| He will canonise Brother Antonio Galvao, Brazil's first native-born saint, at the ceremony. | He will canonise Brother Antonio Galvao, Brazil's first native-born saint, at the ceremony. |
| A smaller crowd of at least 350,000 is likely to attend the second Mass on Sunday in Aparecida, where the Pope will also attend a conference of Latin American bishops. | A smaller crowd of at least 350,000 is likely to attend the second Mass on Sunday in Aparecida, where the Pope will also attend a conference of Latin American bishops. |
| The first such forum for 15 years will bring together almost 200 bishops and cardinals from across Latin America and the Caribbean to set out the Church's agenda and future policies in the region. | The first such forum for 15 years will bring together almost 200 bishops and cardinals from across Latin America and the Caribbean to set out the Church's agenda and future policies in the region. |
| Social policies | Social policies |
| During Pope Benedict's meeting with the Brazilian President, Mr Lula asked the pontiff to help him spread Brazil's social policies around the world. | During Pope Benedict's meeting with the Brazilian President, Mr Lula asked the pontiff to help him spread Brazil's social policies around the world. |
| Around 41,000 people have been invited to the Pacaembu stadium | Around 41,000 people have been invited to the Pacaembu stadium |
| But they did not discuss abortion, which has become one of the main focal points of the Pope's visit to the country. | But they did not discuss abortion, which has become one of the main focal points of the Pope's visit to the country. |
| Shortly after being greeted by the president at Sao Paulo's airport on Wednesday, Pope Benedict stressed the need to respect life "from the moment of conception until natural death". | Shortly after being greeted by the president at Sao Paulo's airport on Wednesday, Pope Benedict stressed the need to respect life "from the moment of conception until natural death". |
| He also told journalists that politicians and medical workers who supported abortions in Mexico City, should "exclude themselves from Communion". | He also told journalists that politicians and medical workers who supported abortions in Mexico City, should "exclude themselves from Communion". |
| Brazil's Health Minister, Jose Gomes Temperao, is adamant that the Church should not interfere in Brazil's abortion debate. | Brazil's Health Minister, Jose Gomes Temperao, is adamant that the Church should not interfere in Brazil's abortion debate. |
| "You can't impose the precepts and dogma of a particular religion on an entire society," Mr Temperao said on Wednesday. | "You can't impose the precepts and dogma of a particular religion on an entire society," Mr Temperao said on Wednesday. |
| "Church and state have been separate in Brazil for centuries," he said. | "Church and state have been separate in Brazil for centuries," he said. |