POPE FRANCIS ATTACKS INEQUALITY ON VISIT TO BRAZILIAN SLUM

Pope Francis attacks inequality on visit to Brazilian slum

Pontiff criticises 'culture of selfishness and individualism' and urges more efforts to fight poverty


Jonathan Watts in Rio de Janeiro

theguardian.com, Thursday 25 July 2013 13.38 EDT


Pope Francis has made his strongest condemnation yet of inequality when he used a visit to a Brazilian slum to denounce the "culture of selfishness" that is widening the gap between rich and poor.

The first Latin American pontiff, who once worked with slum dwellers in his home city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, expressed solidarity with the residents of the Varginha favela in northern Rio de Janeiro, where he received a rapturous welcome.

"You are often disappointed by facts that speak of corruption on the part of people who put their own interests before the common good," Francis told a crowd which had gathered on a football pitch to hear him speak. "To you and 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."

Despite security concerns, the pope walked through the favela, which was once part of a region contested by drug-gangs that was so violent it was known as the Gaza Strip.

Varginha was "pacified" in January by special police units, which still maintain a presence in the community where Francis stopped to pray at a small local church.

The setting underscored the pope's focus on poor and peripheral communities, where the Catholic church has been losing followers in recent years to US-style evangelicalism.

On Thursday, the pontiff unleashed the most powerful and politically loaded rhetoric of his trip, attacking the "culture of selfishness and individualism" and urging more efforts to fight hunger and poverty.

"No amount of peace-building 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.

The throngs were largely kept at bay by security barriers, but Francis kissed babies and shook hands with well-wishers. Police helicopters buzzed overhead, and police snipers watched the crowd from rooftops.

In a mass the previous day, the pope had urged Catholics to resist the "ephemeral idols" of money, power, success and pleasure. He also waded into political waters gave a sharply worded condemnation of moves to legalise drug use during a visit on Wednesday to a rehabilitation centre in Brazil.

"A reduction in the spread and influence of drug addiction will not be achieved by a liberalisation of drug use, as is currently being proposed in various parts of Latin America," he said.

Those comments ran counter to a growing movement in Latin America to decriminalise the use of marijuana and other narcotics after decades of a murderous and largely ineffectual war against drugs in the region.

On Thursday evening, the pope drew hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to a World Youth Day mass on the Copacabana beach, which is better known for its sun worshippers.

Catholics from around the world flocked to Rio to hear and see Francis, whose visit for the WYD festival coincides with a wave of protest in Brazil over inequality, corruption, high prices and low standards of public service. A huge stage decorated with a crucifix and flanked by giant screens and speakers has been erected on the sands usually occupied by beach footballers, volleyball players and bikini-clad tourists.

On Thursday, however, the Catholic faithful who filled the area were shivering under umbrellas as Rio experienced one of its coldest and wettest winter days. The rain halted in time for the pope's procession through rapturous crowds, many carrying the flags of their countries, others in nuns' habits, monks' cassocks or wearing priests' dog collars.

"I've always heard that Cariocas (Rio-born people) did not like the cold or the rain. But you are here. Well done!" Pope Francis joked at the start of his address.

Many of those present had travelled for days by bus or plane to see a pope that they admire for his spirituality, lack of ostentation and strong emphasis on the poor. For many Brazilian Catholics, these qualities are appreciated at a time when more than a million people have taken to the streets to condemn local politicians and businessmen.

Giovana Mendes was one of those who took part in protests against what she described as "the shameful political situation". But the 17-year-old said she was filled with hope and excitement to see a Latin American pope.

"It's indescribable, marvellous. I have butterflies in my stomach. It's an amazing feeling," she said. "In my life, he is the best pope. He's for the people."

The focus of the pope's visit has been on drawing more young people into the church. Brazil is the world's most populous Catholic nation, but in recent years the Vatican has been alarmed by the rise of secularism and an exodus of worshippers to US-style evangelical groups.

In the 1980s, nearly 90% of Brazilians identified themselves as Catholic. Today, however, census data suggests only 65% do so, while 22% describe themselves as evangelical, and 10% say they are not religious.

Many expressed hope that the new pope would offer a change of style and focus that would help to reverse the decline.

"He's very humble. He likes to speak the language of young people," said Renan Maia Londrino, a 22-year-old from Paraná state. "I hope he can mobilise young people who are outside the church. This is an important moment for the entire world."

The authorities appear to have struggled with the conflicting desire of the pope to be as accessible as possible and the government's instinct to step up security at a time of heightened protest.

Another demonstration was staged on Thursday evening a few kilometres further along the coast outside the home of the unpopular Rio state governor, Sérgio Cabral, in Leblon. Protests at the same location earlier in the week were broken up with rubber bullets and teargas.

Although the pope has been careful not to take sides, the Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff, said her government needed to work closely with the Vatican "against a common enemy – inequality" and to do more to improve the lives of its people.

Although Francis had a somewhat conservative reputation in his home nation, Argentina, up until he was chosen as pope, his comments prior to his visit to Brazil on "savage capitalism" and the "dictatorship of the economy" heartened many on the left and those who joined the recent protests.

"The church fights with us. Pope Francisco fights with the people in these demonstrations," said Walace Luiz Herbst, a pilgrim from Brazil's Espírito Santo state. "Christ, the pope and the church won't sit quiet about injustice and inequality."

However, some demonstrators are unhappy that Brazil is reportedly spending $51m on hosting the pope. The organisation has hit occasional glitches. The Vatican announced on Thursday that the pope's schedule will have to change because the custom-built site where he was supposed to preside over Sunday mass has been waterlogged by the rain. Instead the event will take place on Copacabana beach.