World Youth Day 2013: Pope Francis Departs Rome, Spiritual Assembly Heats Up
Pope Francis has departed from Rome and is now on his way to attend and lead the 2013 World Youth Day in Brazil, his first ever WYD activity as well as first international trip since his installation in March as the 266th pope and successor of Benedict XVI.
The pope and his companions are expected to land at the Galeão International Airport on Monday at 4pm (Rio de Janeiro time). He will then proceed to the Metropolitan Cathedral. At 5pm, he will parade along Avenida República do Chile, Avenida Rio Branco, Rua Araújo Porto Alegre, Avenida Graça Aranha, Avenida Nilo Peçanha and again on Avenida Rio Branco towards the Theatro Municipal.
The visit of the first Latin American pope, who is out to woo about two million young Catholics, follows the 2014 Football World Cup which was marred by massive and violent rallies by individuals and groups protesting against corruption and calling for better public services.
Local Brazilian peace and order law enforcement officers are particularly tense over the pope's wishes to abort using the bullet-proof popemobile.
"The Pope's security chief told us he wants a lot of contact with the people, that he does not want to remain isolated. And security personnel need to pay a lot of attention in moments when he gets close to people, because it can lead to risky situations," Colonel Paulo Cruz, one of the security experts responsible for the papal visit, said.
"Of course preventive measures need to be very careful and thorough. But if that is what he wants and that is what is being planned, then, certainly, we are meticulously seeing what can be done to avoid any situations that could be embarrassing for the pope," Institutional Security Minister Jose Elito said.
World Youth Day 2013 becomes the 14th international WYD activity since being established in 1984 by the late Pope John Paul II.
The first mass for the first WYD happened at St Peter's Square and it was also there where John Paul II entrusted the WYD Cross to the youth.
- MOST READ
