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Pope Francis greeted by ecstatic crowds following arrival in Brazil Pope Francis greeted by ecstatic crowds following arrival in Brazil
(42 minutes later)
Pope Francis was greeted by happy crowds and a holiday atmosphere in Rio de Janeiro as he returned to his native continent for the first time as pontiff, embarking on a seven-day visit.Pope Francis was greeted by happy crowds and a holiday atmosphere in Rio de Janeiro as he returned to his native continent for the first time as pontiff, embarking on a seven-day visit.
But police also kept protesters at bay as the pope met Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, behind a heavy police and military presence at Rio's Laranjeiras Palace, where demonstrators burnt an effigy of state governor Sérgio Cabral.But police also kept protesters at bay as the pope met Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, behind a heavy police and military presence at Rio's Laranjeiras Palace, where demonstrators burnt an effigy of state governor Sérgio Cabral.
The pope landed in Rio at 4pm local time and toured streets in the city centre. During his first minutes in Brazil, believers swarmed around the closed Fiat several times when it was forced to stop by heavy traffic on the drive from the airport to an official ceremony in Rio's centre. A few security guards struggled to push the crowd back. Church and city officials said the pope's driver turned into the wrong part of a boulevard and missed lanes that had been cleared.The pope landed in Rio at 4pm local time and toured streets in the city centre. During his first minutes in Brazil, believers swarmed around the closed Fiat several times when it was forced to stop by heavy traffic on the drive from the airport to an official ceremony in Rio's centre. A few security guards struggled to push the crowd back. Church and city officials said the pope's driver turned into the wrong part of a boulevard and missed lanes that had been cleared.
Other parts of the pope's route to the city centre weren't lined with fencing, giving the throngs more chances to get close, with uniformed police nowhere in sight to act as crowd control.
Francis looked calm during the frenzy. He rolled down the window on the car where he was sitting, waving to the crowd and touching those who reached inside. At one point, a woman handed the pontiff a dark-haired baby, whom he kissed before handing it back.Francis looked calm during the frenzy. He rolled down the window on the car where he was sitting, waving to the crowd and touching those who reached inside. At one point, a woman handed the pontiff a dark-haired baby, whom he kissed before handing it back.
"His secretary was afraid," papal spokesman the Rev Federico Lombardi said. "But the pope was happy."
The Vatican insisted they had no concern for the pope's safety as his vehicles eased through the masses, but Lombardi acknowledged that there might have been some "errors" that need correcting. "This is something new, maybe also a lesson for the coming days," Lombardi said.
After finally making it past crowds and blocked traffic, Francis switched to an open-air popemobile as he toured around the main streets in downtown Rio through mobs of people who screamed wildly as he waved and smiled. Many in the crowd looked stunned, with some standing still and others sobbing loudly.After finally making it past crowds and blocked traffic, Francis switched to an open-air popemobile as he toured around the main streets in downtown Rio through mobs of people who screamed wildly as he waved and smiled. Many in the crowd looked stunned, with some standing still and others sobbing loudly.
"This is the youth of the pope!" chanted young pilgrims outside Rio's Metropolitan Cathedral. Others sang "I'm Brazilian, with much pride, with much love," while helicopters hovered overhead and troops and armed police lined the streets."This is the youth of the pope!" chanted young pilgrims outside Rio's Metropolitan Cathedral. Others sang "I'm Brazilian, with much pride, with much love," while helicopters hovered overhead and troops and armed police lined the streets.
"He is a person of faith and he has shown his greatness in a very short time," said Diego Moreno, who had travelled with two friends from Mendoza in Argentina. "We are very proud of him.""He is a person of faith and he has shown his greatness in a very short time," said Diego Moreno, who had travelled with two friends from Mendoza in Argentina. "We are very proud of him."
Up to 2.5m pilgrims are expected to crowd events such as another parade down Copacabana beach front and a two-day prayer vigil and mass in the so-called "Field of Faith" at Pedra de Guaratiba.Up to 2.5m pilgrims are expected to crowd events such as another parade down Copacabana beach front and a two-day prayer vigil and mass in the so-called "Field of Faith" at Pedra de Guaratiba.
In a speech beside President Dilma Rousseff at the state government seat, Laranjeiras Palace, Pope Francis charmed his Brazilian hosts with his humility.In a speech beside President Dilma Rousseff at the state government seat, Laranjeiras Palace, Pope Francis charmed his Brazilian hosts with his humility.
"I learnt that to have access to the Brazilian people, it is necessary to enter through the door of their immense heart. Permit me at this time to knock delicately at this door," he told his audience."I learnt that to have access to the Brazilian people, it is necessary to enter through the door of their immense heart. Permit me at this time to knock delicately at this door," he told his audience.
"I have neither silver nor gold, but I bring with me the most precious thing given to me: Jesus Christ."
Outside a number of demonstrations, including a gay rights march, had joined together into a crowd of some 2,000. The march come to a halt in front of massed ranks of riot police and an armoured vehicle outside the palace.Outside a number of demonstrations, including a gay rights march, had joined together into a crowd of some 2,000. The march come to a halt in front of massed ranks of riot police and an armoured vehicle outside the palace.
Protesters carried banners calling for Cabral to be sacked and proclaiming gay rights. "It is not about religion but public spending," read one placard.Protesters carried banners calling for Cabral to be sacked and proclaiming gay rights. "It is not about religion but public spending," read one placard.
About an hour after the pontiff concluded his short speech, police began cracking down on the protests, firing rubber bullets in an effort to disperse the crowd.
The government spent about $52 million for Francis' visit, but he does not appear to be a focus of protesters' rage.
"We've got nothing against the pope. Nobody here is against him," said Christopher Creindel, a 22-year-old art student and Rio native protesting outside the government palace. "This protest is against our politicians."
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