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| Pope Francis visits Brazil favela | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Pope Francis has visited a poor neighbourhood of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. | Pope Francis has visited a poor neighbourhood of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. |
| The Pope addressed residents of the community of Varginha in the latest stop of his visit to Brazil, the first foreign trip of his papacy. | The Pope addressed residents of the community of Varginha in the latest stop of his visit to Brazil, the first foreign trip of his papacy. |
| He blessed the new altar at a tiny church and hugged and kissed locals who crowded around him. | He blessed the new altar at a tiny church and hugged and kissed locals who crowded around him. |
| On the fourth day of his visit to Brazil, he will also greet the faithful at the World Youth Day in Copacabana. | On the fourth day of his visit to Brazil, he will also greet the faithful at the World Youth Day in Copacabana. |
| 'Forgotten community' | 'Forgotten community' |
| Security was tight in Varginha, which is part of the larger Manguinhos favela, one of the many hillside shanty towns which surround Rio. | Security was tight in Varginha, which is part of the larger Manguinhos favela, one of the many hillside shanty towns which surround Rio. |
| Helicopters and sharpshooters were on patrol as Pope Francis visited the area while school children waved flags and held up balloons. | Helicopters and sharpshooters were on patrol as Pope Francis visited the area while school children waved flags and held up balloons. |
| The excitement was palpable as he arrived and resident Antonieta de Souza Costa told Reuters news agency she thought the visit would "bring people back to the Catholic Church''. | |
| The Brazilian government has made the "pacification" of these communities, once a byword for poverty, crime and drugs, one of its priorities. | The Brazilian government has made the "pacification" of these communities, once a byword for poverty, crime and drugs, one of its priorities. |
| Heavily armed police have moved into some of the more lawless favelas, including Varginha, to "flush out" the criminals and drug dealers who controlled large swathes of these communities. | Heavily armed police have moved into some of the more lawless favelas, including Varginha, to "flush out" the criminals and drug dealers who controlled large swathes of these communities. |
| According to official estimates, more than 20% of the population of the city live in favelas. | According to official estimates, more than 20% of the population of the city live in favelas. |
| The Pope, who has called for a "Church of the poor" and who during his time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires regularly visited some of the poorest areas of that city, specifically asked for a favela to be included in his schedule. | The Pope, who has called for a "Church of the poor" and who during his time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires regularly visited some of the poorest areas of that city, specifically asked for a favela to be included in his schedule. |
| Locals say the government's policy of sending large numbers of police to the area has gone some way towards calming the area, but not enough. | Locals say the government's policy of sending large numbers of police to the area has gone some way towards calming the area, but not enough. |
| "There is no state presence; our community was forgotten for a long time. I hope with the Pope's visit we can have some improvement," carpenter Paulo Lima told NBC news. | "There is no state presence; our community was forgotten for a long time. I hope with the Pope's visit we can have some improvement," carpenter Paulo Lima told NBC news. |
| After the favela visit, the Pope headed to Rio's cathedral for a meeting with tens of thousands of Argentine faithful. | |
| During the event, he told pilgrims to take to the streets and "stir things up". | |
| "I expect a messy World Youth Day. But I want things messy and stirred up in the congregations, I want you to take to the streets. I want the Church to take to the streets," he told the crowd. | |
| 'Passing idols' | 'Passing idols' |
| The visit comes just a day after Pope Francis said it was key to tackle the roots of drug abuse rather than consider legalising them. | The visit comes just a day after Pope Francis said it was key to tackle the roots of drug abuse rather than consider legalising them. |
| At a Mass at the shrine of Aparecida, he also warned tens of thousands of faithful against the "passing idols" of money, power and pleasure. | At a Mass at the shrine of Aparecida, he also warned tens of thousands of faithful against the "passing idols" of money, power and pleasure. |
| "How many dealers of death there are that follow the logic of power and money at any cost," he told the congregation. | "How many dealers of death there are that follow the logic of power and money at any cost," he told the congregation. |
| Leaders in Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and others have spoken for softer stances on drugs policy. In Uruguay, a project decriminalising marijuana sale is set to be voted in Congress next week. | Leaders in Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and others have spoken for softer stances on drugs policy. In Uruguay, a project decriminalising marijuana sale is set to be voted in Congress next week. |
| The highlight of the Pope's trip to Brazil is expected to be a prayer service on Rio's Copacabana Beach later on Thursday, which is likely to draw hundreds of thousands. | The highlight of the Pope's trip to Brazil is expected to be a prayer service on Rio's Copacabana Beach later on Thursday, which is likely to draw hundreds of thousands. |