Pope defends poor, slams corruption

Pope Francis kisses a baby girl as he is surrounded by security during his visit to the Varginha slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, July 25, 2013. Francis on Thursday waded into Brazil’s ramshackle slums and onto the front line of its fierce national battle over poverty and corruption, borne along by adoring crowds. AP PHOTO/VICTOR R. CAIVANO

RIO DE JANEIRO—Pope Francis waded into Brazil’s ramshackle slums and onto the front line of its fierce national battle over poverty and corruption on Thursday, borne along by adoring crowds.

The Argentine pontiff urged young Brazilians not to be discouraged in their fight against exploitation and appealed for greater social inclusion during a visit to a Rio shantytown.

And, on the fourth day of his visit to Brazil, he was confronted with starkly contrasting images of life in the dramatic tropical metropolis.

To the obvious discomfort of his security detail, the pope traveled to Rio’s northern slums in an open-sided vehicle, before walking the streets, glad-handing crowds and kissing proffered babies.

He then headed toward the opulence of its iconic beachfront area, where he was to be welcomed by hundreds of thousands of Catholic youths.

Don’t be discouraged amid corruption

“Dear young friends, you have a particular sensitivity towards injustice, but you are often disappointed by facts that speak of corruption on the part of people who put their own interests before the common good,” he said.

“To you and to all, I repeat: never yield to discouragement, do not lose trust, do not allow your hope to be extinguished. Situations can change, people can change,” he told thousands gathered under pelting rain on a soccer field in the Varginha slum.

Brazil was rocked by huge street protests last month, when more than a million people took to the streets to condemn corruption, poor public services and the cost of hosting the 2014 World Cup.

The 1,000-resident Varginha slum is one of a dozen favelas where police have evicted drug gangs and restored security ahead of next year’s World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.

The pope, referring to the police drive to restore security in the city’s violence-wracked favelas, said “pacification” was not in itself enough to combat poverty.

“No amount of pacification will be able to last, nor will harmony and happiness be attained in a society that ignores, pushes to the margins or excludes a part of itself,” he said.

“A society of that kind simply impoverishes itself, it loses something essential. Let us always remember this: only when we are able to share do we become truly rich; everything that is shared is multiplied,” he added.

The pope was greeted to the worn-down slum with banners, flags and two two-meter (six-foot) statues representing the pontiff and the venerated Black Virgin of Aparecida.

Stopping to chat

Protected by a watchful security team, he walked through the streets, stopping to chat with delighted residents and accepting a flower lei around his neck.

And the first Latin American pope entered the humble house of a seven-member family.

“This is going to change my life for the better,” said 59-year-old Carmen Mendoca shortly before the pontiff dropped in. “I am waiting for him with cake and coffee.”

He then went on to bless the altar of the tiny, 62-seat Sao Jeromino Emiliani church.

“I would have liked to knock on every door, to say good morning, to ask for a glass of water, to take a coffee, but not cachaca,” he told the crowd, referring to the favored local liquor.

Its residents are divided roughly equally between Catholics and Evangelical protestants.

Aiming to re-energize flock

Vatican officials have made no secret of the fact that the pope’s first trip abroad since his election aims to re-energize his flock, at a time when Evangelical churches are gaining strength in Brazil.

In the morning, the pope met with athletes, received the keys to the city and blessed the Olympic flag at the mayor’s official mansion.

He then addressed thousands of fellow Argentines in Rio’s modernistic, cone-shaped Cathedral.

Later, Pope Francis was to be officially welcomed by mammoth crowds of young Catholics attending World Youth Day on famous Copacabana beach.

On Tuesday night, more than 500,000 well-wishers flooded the beach for a Mass led by Rio Archbishop Orani Tempesta, amid scenes of chaos as the city’s transportation system was overwhelmed.

That came a day after crowds of pilgrims were able to stop the pope’s convoy and reach their hands inside his car’s open window, after the driver made a wrong turn as he made his way into Rio from the airport.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes said steps were being taken to avoid a repeat of such “deplorable incidents.”