World Youth Day 2013: Masks of Any Form Banned During Festivities, Especially During Mass of Pope Francis
Peace and order law enforcement officers in Brazil on Thursday announced that masks of any form and design will be banned for the entire duration of the World Youth Day 2013, most especially during the scheduled mass of Pope Francis on July 23 in Rio de Janeiro.
"Masked people will be barred from entering. It is not the right space... for a subject with a hostile attitude, wearing a mask, to enter," Gen Jose Alberto da Costa Abreu, in charge of security for the Pope's visit, said.
"We will not allow this to happen," he told reporters.
Gen Abreu and his team were particularly worried of a possible repeat of June's unrest during the football Confederations Cup where many of the protesters seized the opportunity to wear Guy Fawkes masks and then wreaked havoc among the crowds.
Masks bearing the Guy Fawkes design, a stylised portrayal of a white face with an oversized smile and red cheeks, a wide moustache upturned at both ends and a thin vertical pointed beard, have become synonymous with any group that is trying to fight against injustice.
About 35,000 security officials will be deployed during Pope Francis' visit to the Latin American nation to thwart any possible chaos and violent behaviours.
Police expect more than a million people at Tuesday's Mass at the Nuestra Señora de Aparecida shrine. About 7,000 troops will be stationed on that day alone.
Pope Francis will also be celebrating masses in various parts of Rio de Janeiro in the following days.
Read: World Youth Day 2013: Vatican Releases Pope Francis Itinerary in Brazil
In fact, enterprising businesses in Rio have already manufactured masks bearing the image of the 266th pope, in the hopes that these souvenirs will be gobbled up by the two million people expected to come from all over the world to attend the holy event, which also happened to be Pope Francis' first overseas trip after being installed Benedict XVI's successor in March.
