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Pope in Brazil: Pilgrims pack Copacabana beach for vigil Pope Francis in Brazil: Pilgrims pack Copacabana beach
(about 7 hours later)
Organisers say about two million people have packed Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro for the last evening of World Youth Day with Pope Francis. Up to three million people have packed Brazil's Copacabana Beach to hear Pope Francis address their all-night vigil.
The night-long vigil service marks the climax of the five-day festival and culminates in a huge Mass on Sunday. The pilgrims are remaining in place for a Mass to be celebrated there by Francis later on Sunday.
The Pope called on young people to be the actors of change in society and rebuild the Roman Catholic church. In his address, he urged the pilgrims not to be part-time Christians but to lead full, meaningful lives.
On Saturday, he challenged the clergy to leave the comfort of their churches and reach out to the marginalised. The Pope, who has been attending the biggest ever Catholic World Youth Day, leaves Brazil on Sunday after five days - his first overseas trip as pontiff.
His week-long visit to Brazil is coming to an end on Sunday.
Speaking on a huge stage where a mock church structure was built, Pope Francis referred to the street protests which have been taking place in Brazil for more than a month.
'Overcome apathy''Overcome apathy'
"The young people in the street are the ones who want to be actors of change. Please don't let others be actors of change," he told the crowd at vigil. Speaking on a huge stage at the beach where a mock church structure was built, Pope Francis referred to the street protests which have been taking place in Brazil for more than a month.
"The young people in the street are the ones who want to be actors of change. Please don't let others be actors of change," he told the crowd at the vigil.
"Keep overcoming apathy and offering a Christian response to the social and political concerns taking place in different parts of the world.""Keep overcoming apathy and offering a Christian response to the social and political concerns taking place in different parts of the world."
Earlier on Saturday, the pope told authorities and civil society leaders to use dialogue as an alternative to "selfish indifference and violent protests". By the time the Pope's car had reached the stage, the back seat was filled with soccer jerseys, flags and flowers thrown to him by adoring pilgrims lining the route.
He also warned against turning into "facade Christians" who let themselves be "dragged by fashion". The BBC's Wyre Davies in Rio says almost every inch of the two-and-a-half mile long beach was occupied as most of the young people stayed on, pitching tents or sleeping in the open.
In the last three decades, the Catholic church has lost millions of followers to smaller Christian denominations.
The vigil on Copacabana Beach marked the penultimate day of the Pope's visit to Brazil.
Correspondents said that by the time his car reached the stage, the back seat was filled with soccer jerseys, flags and flowers thrown to him by adoring pilgrims lining the route.
As the crowd grew, female activists held a demonstration nearby in support of abortion and women's rights.As the crowd grew, female activists held a demonstration nearby in support of abortion and women's rights.
'Go to the favelas' But our correspondent says the Pope and the Church hierarchy will be delighted at the huge turnout and the way Francis has been received by pilgrims from across the globe.
Earlier, the Pope addressed civil leaders and government officials at Rio's Municipal Theatre. The Mass will be celebrated at the beach in the early afternoon.
Earlier on Saturday, the Pope addressed civil leaders and government officials at Rio's Municipal Theatre.
"Between selfish indifference and violent protest, there is always another possible option: that of dialogue," he said, in a reference to demonstrations that have been rocking the country since June."Between selfish indifference and violent protest, there is always another possible option: that of dialogue," he said, in a reference to demonstrations that have been rocking the country since June.
"A country grows when constructive dialogue occurs between its many rich cultural components: popular culture, university culture, youth culture, artistic and technological culture, economic culture, family culture and media culture.""A country grows when constructive dialogue occurs between its many rich cultural components: popular culture, university culture, youth culture, artistic and technological culture, economic culture, family culture and media culture."
In the past three decades, the Catholic church has lost millions of followers to smaller Christian denominations.
'Go to the favelas'
Also on Saturday, the Pope repeated his challenge to fellow Roman Catholic clerics to take to the streets.Also on Saturday, the Pope repeated his challenge to fellow Roman Catholic clerics to take to the streets.
In a speech to 1,000 bishops and clerics in Rio's cathedral, he said they should go to the favelas - Brazil's shanty towns.In a speech to 1,000 bishops and clerics in Rio's cathedral, he said they should go to the favelas - Brazil's shanty towns.
"We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities, when so many people are waiting for the Gospel," he told the audience."We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities, when so many people are waiting for the Gospel," he told the audience.
Protests, sometimes violent, broke out in cities across Brazil last month against corruption, poor public services and the high cost of events like the 2014 World Cup.Protests, sometimes violent, broke out in cities across Brazil last month against corruption, poor public services and the high cost of events like the 2014 World Cup.