JMJ-BRASIL, mda. The Alitalia airplane descended punctually at 4:00 p.m.at the Galeao Air Base, the airplane was makred with the letters “JM” and it carried the one who left as Jorge Mario Bergoglio a little more than four months ago from the Ezeiza airport in Buenos Aires, and returned to his beloved Latin America, to Brazil, as Pope Francis, where thousands of youths waited for him. He arrived as Pope Francis, and he arrived just as he was: being himself, spontaneous, authentic, available for any request, humble and without fear of the people.
At the airport, President Dilma Rousanoff was among other authorities, who waited for his arrival, in addition to a children’s and youth choir, and the team that will closely accompany him during this “youth week” as he called it. For a minute, to the surprised gaze of the Schoenstatters , who still did not know, saw Father Alexandre Awi de Melo among the cardinals and bishops. Is it he? Yes, it was. Dl Orani, Archbishop of Rio de Janiero, who had blessed the “Pilgrim Shrine on July 18th, was the host who welcomed him. They went to a closed automobile that would take them to the cathedral. The Pope changed the program that was planned and he insisted on traveling by auto through the streets before going to the official government reception , so that he could be with the people… almost causing the security personnel a heart attack. But he insisted.
In immediate contact with the people – without fear
When he left the airport, the Bishop of Rome, boarded a small silver automobile, he opened the window of the vehicle that carried him so that the people could see him better and so that he could greet and bless those who waited in the streets. The images were the same as the ones we have seen during the last months in Rome during the general audiences: the auto slowly advanced and stopped allowing the Pope to greet, bless, and kiss the people. So many children – like at Saint Peter’s Square- were brought to him by the police so that the Holy Father could hug them and bless them. The protocol was also broken in Rio with this first direct encounter wth the people that was not planned. And not only multitudes of youths ran to see him. A crowd of pilgrims almost “cornered” the papal entourage, even to shaking the Pope’s unshielded car. The people were intent on approaching him The traffic was tumultous and slow, which caused a little bit of tension and it was considered as a partial lack of control of security. The Pope “also made the situation “difficult” by keeping the window open, greeting and shaking the hand of those who surrounded the automobile.
“The pope insisted on traveling with the window of the car open, since the only change on the route – from the international airport to the metropolitan catedral in the center of Rio – was the detour at the end of the route, precisely to avoid contact with a group of demonstrators,” Father Federico Lombardi, the vatican spokeman commented, to the journalists on Monday. “The pope trusts the authorities completely”, he said about Francis’ willingness to face the immediate, spontaneous contact with the people.
The people applaud, vibrate.
Finally, they arrived to the catedral, the Pope was taken to an open popemobile. The multitudes approach him with cell phones in hand and they try to touch him, to take pictures.. Youth volunteers, dressed in yellow shirts, form a división line, helping with the Pope’s security. The people applaud, vibrate. A multitude went to see him and to welcome him. The Pope blessed little children throughout the route from the catedral to the municipal theater, where he again gets into an automobile that will take him to the third air force command to take a helicopter that will take him to the Palace of Guanabara for his first official event in Rio de Janeiro.
“I watched everything on the internet and was moved to tears…To see a Pilgrim MTA among the multitude. It was raised very high by a young person, it was the greatest”, a collaborator of schoenstatt.org from Argentina related. “What a gift this Pope is! And he just started”.
In order to arrive to his first official appointment in Guanabar, the government headquarters of Rio de Janeiro, the Pope exchanged the auto for the Popemobile and then to a helicopter. The welcome ceremony of protocol and the first private encounter with President Dilma Rousseff, began an hour late. The president of Brazil, officially welcomed the Pope at the Palacio de Guanabra; she pointed out the common points of her government with the Pope’s social politics; the president of Brazil, Dilma Roussef mentioned that he was the “first Latin American Pope”, she asked the pope to promote a “covenant solidarity”, a global covenant” in the struggle against poverty.
“Go beyond the confines of what is humanly possible and create a world of brothers and sisters!
Then, he took the floor and he read a short an outstanding speech. He began saying:
“In his loving providence, God willed that the first international trip of my pontificate should take me back to my beloved Latin America, specifically to Brazil, a country proud of its links to the Apostolic See and of its deep sentiments of faith and friendship that have always kept it united in a special way to the Successor of Peter”.
He continued: I have neither silver nor gold, but I bring with me the most precious thing given to me: Jesus Christ! He received great applause.
Another striking phrase:” Go beyond the confines of what is humanly possible and create a world of brothers and sisters!” And: “Young people are the window through which the future enters the world! And young people have confidence in Christ: they are not afraid to risk for him the only life they have, because they know they will not be disappointed.”
In conclusion, he expressed his gratitude to everyone for the sensitivity and attention they extended to him, if possible, the sympathy needed to establish friendly dialogue. The arms of the Pope now spread to embrace all of Brazil in its human, cultural and religious complexity and richness. From the Amazon Basin to the pampas, from the dry regions to the Pantanal, from the villages to the great cities, no one is excluded from the Pope’s affection. In two days’ time, God willing, I will remember all of you before Our Lady of Aparecida, invoking her maternal protection on your homes and families. But for now I give all of you my blessing. Thank you for your welcome!
Warmth and informality – and profound social message.
Then, he greeted the political authorities,who attended, and then he greeted his team that accompanies him with a very close,and cordial gesture of friendship…Father Alexandre Awi de Melo was among them.
One of Argentina’s most prestigious newspapers summarized the Pope’s arrival:
True to his style, the Pope’s arrival to Brazil was charged with warmth and informality, but also of a profound social message.
A journalist from Stuttgarter Zeitung in Germany wrote, and one feels the awe and hope between the lines: “The “option for the poor” which was propagated before 1945 in Medellin for the Latin-American Church has since then become part of the language of the Church as a whole. It has taken on shape and form in the first Latin-American Pope. Once again a picture illustrates this: Yesterday morning Pope Francis personally carried on board the plane the heavy briefcase he was taking to Rio. Anyone else would have allowed someone else to do this for him.”
To Aparecida
On Wednesday, the 24th, he will go on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, patroness of Brazil and in 2007 it was the headquarters for the Latin American Bishops in which he became a key figure, editing its main document that calls the Catholic Church a continental mission. He often gives it to the heads of states whom he receives in audience, among them Cristina Kirchner.
With material from Renate Dekker, Mechthild Jahn, and several agencies.
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA
