Sunday: Benedict in Brazil (Fifth & Final Day)

Today is Pope Benedict's fifth and final day in Brazil, during which he will celebrate Mass at the famous shrine of Aparecida and inaugurate the fifth general conferences of Latin American and Caribbean bishops, before departing and flying back to the Vatican in the evening. Once again, this post will be updated and expanded throughout the day, so keep visiting. Thanks!

NB: Complete roundup of my coverage here, the best photos from the trip are available here.

Sunday's papal itinerary (all times EST):

9:00AM - Holy Mass in the square in front of the Shrine of Aparecida [Homily of the Holy Father] + Recitation of the Regina Caeli [Address of the Holy Father]
3:00PM - Arrival at the Conference Hall & Inauguration session of the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops' Conferences [Address of the Holy Father]
6:40PM - Farewell ceremony at the Airport of São Paulo [Address of the Holy Father]

Top News & Breaking Reports:

• Photos: The best three pictures from Pope Benedict's final day in Brazil (AmericanPapist selections).
• Breaking: Pope leaves Brazil after "intense and unforgettable" visit (Extra)
• Breaking: Pope assails Marxism, capitalism (AP)
• Revealing: "Benedict ignored security measures to approach the recovering addicts, in an unexpected move that alarmed security agents and even Stapel. 'Police tried to stop him, and I did not agree either. But the pope is an authority. He can do whatever he wants,' Stapel told reporters. Later, Benedict again ignored security protocols by rolling down the windows of his bullet-proof 'popemobile,' seeking closer contact with the faithful as he travelled through Aparecida." [More...]
• Information: Primer explaining the consequences in canon law for being a pro-abortion politician
• Noteworthy: Vatican tones down papal remarks on pro-abortion Catholic politicians (CNS): "Pope Benedict XVI's comments on excommunication for pro-abortion Catholic politicians touched on huge and sensitive issues -- so sensitive that the Vatican issued a toned-down version of his remarks the following day."
• Humor: Today's Papist-picture-of-the-Day.

Important general links:

• AP Photo feed
• EWTN's video coverage (begins 8:30 AM & 3PM)
• Vatican video feed
• Vatican complete itinerary of the journey
• Vatican overview page of the journey
• Official Latin American Bishops's conference page (spanish)
• Official Archdiocese of San Paolo welcome page (some english)
• PapaRaziForum coverage thread
• AmericanPapist(this blog)'s complete pre-visit coverage.

Papal texts and transcripts:

• New: Pope's Address at Rosary Meeting
• New: Pope's Address to "Fazenda da Esperança"
• Benedict XVI's Address to Brazil's Bishops
• Pope's Address at Canonization of 1st Brazilian
• Text of Pope's Meeting with Youth
• Welcome ceremony at the International Airport of São Paulo/Guarulhos - Address (May 9, 2007)
• Greeting and blessing from the balcony of the Monastery of São Bento in São Paulo - Greeting (May 9, 2007)
• John Allen's transcript of the Pope's conference aboard his plane

Notable St. Blog's coverage:

• Whispers: "This Is Our Home!" // The Word as "Staple Diet"

Catholic media coverage/analysis:

• Zenit: Pope: Faith Is Latin America's No. 1 Resource //Be Open to Christ's Light, Urges Pope //Benedict XVI Rebukes Drug Dealers //
• CNS: Pope says Latin America needs 'courageous, effective missionaries'
• CNA: Parents, pray with your children, Pope says // Church grows by attraction, not proselytism, Pope says // Holy Father extols Br. Galvao as example for evangelization
• John Allen: Day Four: Facing dramatic losses, Benedict says: ‘It’s worth it to stay Catholic!’
• CathNews: Green pope says save Amazon

Mainstream coverage (linked not necessarily for accuracy, but to remain informed):

• NYT: The Pope Denounces Capitalism and Marxism
• WashingtonPost: Pope Cites Church's Regional Challenges
• AP: Pope assails Marxism, capitalism
• The Australian: Pilgrims celebrate pope's open-air mass
• AP: In Brazil, Pope Urges Bishops to Action
• O.C.Register: Bishops to reflect on future of the faith

The rest:

Special thanks to Amy Welborn, Domenico Bettinelli, Gerald Augustinus and Rocco Palmo for inviting their readers to my coverage. Special thanks also to Teresa Benedetta and the other regular contributors of the PapaRatzingerForum for their incredible industry and dedication to all things Papa Benny!

Note: For the especially-motivated, even more interesting facts, photos & video here.

Note: I will try to watch EWTN's live coverage of the Pope inaugurating the conference of bishops at 3pm, and "liveblogging" some of my reactions in the combox below.

[photo credit & captions: (1) Pope Benedict XVI blesses the crowd as he arrives for the opening mass of the V Latin American Episcopal Council in Aparecida, Brazil, Sunday, May 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Dado Galdieri) (2)Pope Benedict XVI blesses faithful catholic wearing an Arab headscarfduring the opening mass of the V General Conference of Latin American Bishops in Aparecida, Brazil, Sunday, May 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Dado Galdieri) (3) General view of the grounds of the Aparecida Basilica during the opening mass for the V General Conference of Latin American Bishops celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in Aparecida, Brazil, Sunday, May 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)]

Saturday: Benedict in Brazil (Day Four)

Today, Pope Benedict continues his apostolic journey to Brazil for a fourth day, visiting a center for drug rehabilitation and then praying the rosary at the famous Shrine of Aparecida. Once again, this post will be updated and expanded throughout the day, so keep visiting!

NB: Complete roundup of my coverage here, the best photos from the trip here.

Highlights of Saturday's papal itinerary (all times EST):

10.30AM - Arrival at the Fazenda da Esperança in Guaratinguetá [Greetings & Address of the Holy Father]
11.45AM - Luncheon with the representatives of the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops' Conferences at "Bom Jesus" Seminary in Aparecida
5PM - Arrival at the Shrine of Aparecida; Recitation of the Holy Rosary and meeting with Priests, Men Religious, Women Religious, Seminarians and Deacons at the Basilica of the Shrine of Aparecida [Address of the Holy Father]
7:30PM - Transfer by car from the Shrine of Aparecida to "Bom Jesus" Seminary

Top News & Breaking Reports:

• Breaking: Pope Benedict XVI summons Latin American bishops to stem church's decline (AP)
• Breaking: Pope praises 'thirst for God'
• Revealing: "Benedict ignored security measures to approach the recovering addicts, in an unexpected move that alarmed security agents and even Stapel. 'Police tried to stop him, and I did not agree either. But the pope is an authority. He can do whatever he wants,' Stapel told reporters. Later, Benedict again ignored security protocols by rolling down the windows of his bullet-proof 'popemobile,' seeking closer contact with the faithful as he travelled through Aparecida." [More...]
• Photos: L'Osservatore Romano gets the best shots // Waiting for the Pope in Rural Brazil
• Information: Primer explaining the consequences in canon law for being a pro-abortion politician
• Noteworthy: Vatican tones down papal remarks on pro-abortion Catholic politicians (CNS): "Pope Benedict XVI's comments on excommunication for pro-abortion Catholic politicians touched on huge and sensitive issues -- so sensitive that the Vatican issued a toned-down version of his remarks the following day."
• Humor: Today's Papist-picture-of-the-Day.

Important general links:

• AP Photo feed
• EWTN's video coverage (starts 5pm, encore 9:30PM)
• Vatican video feed
• Vatican complete itinerary of the journey
• Vatican overview page of the journey
• Official Latin American Bishops's conference page (spanish)
• Official Archdiocese of San Paolo welcome page (some english)
• PapaRaziForum coverage thread
• AmericanPapist(this blog)'s complete pre-visit coverage.

Papal texts and transcripts:

• Benedict XVI's Address to Brazil's Bishops
• Pope's Address at Canonization of 1st Brazilian
• Text of Pope's Meeting with Youth
• Welcome ceremony at the International Airport of São Paulo/Guarulhos - Address (May 9, 2007)
• Greeting and blessing from the balcony of the Monastery of São Bento in São Paulo - Greeting (May 9, 2007)
• John Allen's transcript of the Pope's conference aboard his plane

Notable St. Blog's coverage:

• WDTPRS: Brazil: Benedict beats brother bishops black n’ blue //Brazil: Benedict beats brother bishops black n’ blue
• Whispers: A Canonization... and a Challenge

Catholic media coverage/analysis:

• CNS: Pope ask priests, consecrated to remain in “the school of Mary”
• AsiaNews.It: God will call drug dealers to account, says Pope // Pope tells priests to always have a missionary fervour in their hearts
• CNA: Family, human life, fallen away Catholics priorities of the Pope for Church in Brazil // Pope encourages addicts to recover “meaning of life,” slams drug traffickers
• CNS: Pope tells Brazil's bishops to be clear on family, faith, justice

Mainstream coverage (linked not necessarily for accuracy, but to remain informed):

• NYT: Pope to Meet Latin Clerics in Brazil
• Reuters: Pope hears drug addicts' tales, scolds traffickers
• AP: Pope warns drug dealers of divine retribution

From this morning's Vatican Information Service:

VATICAN CITY, MAY 12, 2007 (VIS) - Today, Saturday May 12, having celebrated Mass privately in the chapel of the "Bom Jesus" seminary, the Pope will visit the church of the "Fazenda da Esperanca" in Guaratingueta.

He will then go on to meet members of the "Fazenda da Esperanca" community, which is dedicated to the rehabilitation of people with problems of drug abuse.

At midday he will return to the "Bom Jesus" seminary for lunch with representatives of the presidency of the Fifth General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean.

At 6 p.m. (11 p.m. in Rome), he will travel to the shrine of Aparecida to pray the Rosary and meet with priests, religious, seminarians and deacons of Brazil.

The rest:

Special thanks to Amy Welborn, Domenico Bettinelli, Gerald Augustinus and Rocco Palmo for inviting their readers to my coverage. Special thanks also to Teresa Benedetta and the other regular contributors of the PapaRatzingerForum for their incredible industry and dedication to all things Papa Benny!

Note: For the especially-motivated, even more interesting facts, photos & video here.

Note 2: tba

[photo credit & captions: (1) Faithful greet Pope Benedict XVI at the 'Fazenda da Esperanca' or 'Farm or Hope' drug rehabilitation center in Guaratingueta, Brazil, Saturday, May 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Victor Caivano) (2) Pope Benedict XVI hugs children during a visit to a drug rehabilitation center called 'Fazenda da Esperanca' or Farm of Hope in Guaratingueta, Brazil, Saturday, May 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) (3) People attend an event with Pope Benedict XVI at a drug rehabilitation center called 'Fazenda da Esperanca' or Farm of Hope in Guaratingueta, Brazil, Saturday, May 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

Friday: Benedict in Brazil (Day Three)

Today, Pope Benedict continues his apostolic journey to Brazil for a third day, celebrating the canonization Mass of Brazil's first native-born saint (Bl. Fr. Antonio Galvao) and then spending the night near the famous Shrine of Aparecida. Once again, this post will be updated and expanded throughout the day, so keep visiting!

NB: Complete roundup of my coverage here, the best photos from the trip here.

Highlights of Friday's papal itinerary (all times EST):

8:30 AM Canonization Mass of Blessed Frei Galvão at Campo de Marte in São Paulo
3:00 PM Vespers with the Bishops of Brazil in the Catedral da Sé in São Paulo
7:00 PM Arrival at the heliport of the Shrine of Aparecida; Welcome by the local Authorities; Transfer by "popemobile" to the "Bom Jesus" Seminary in Aparecida [where he will spend the night]

Top News & Breaking Reports:

• Breaking: Benedict XVI's Address to Brazil's Bishops // Papal Meeting With Religious Leaders Fraternal
• Photos: Canonization Mass of Bl. Galvao (AmericanPapist selections)
• Information: Primer explaining the consequences in canon law for being a pro-abortion politician
• Noteworthy: Vatican tones down papal remarks on pro-abortion Catholic politicians (CNS): "Pope Benedict XVI's comments on excommunication for pro-abortion Catholic politicians touched on huge and sensitive issues -- so sensitive that the Vatican issued a toned-down version of his remarks the following day."
• Audio: Vatican radio on Latin America's missionary challenge + pope's meeting with brazil's bishops
• Humor: Today's Papist-picture-of-the-Day.

Important general links:

• AP Photo feed
• EWTN's video coverage (starts today @ 8AM, 9PM encore)
• Vatican video feed
• Vatican complete itinerary of the journey
• Vatican overview page of the journey
• Official Latin American Bishops's conference page (spanish)
• Official Archdiocese of San Paolo welcome page (some english)
• PapaRaziForum coverage thread
• AmericanPapist(this blog)'s complete pre-visit coverage.

Papal texts and transcripts:

• Today: Benedict XVI's Address to Brazil's Bishops
• Today: Pope's Address at Canonization of 1st Brazilian
• Text of Pope's Meeting with Youth
• Welcome ceremony at the International Airport of São Paulo/Guarulhos - Address (May 9, 2007)
• Greeting and blessing from the balcony of the Monastery of São Bento in São Paulo - Greeting (May 9, 2007)
• John Allen's transcript of the Pope's conference aboard his plane

Notable St. Blog's coverage:

• New: Bettnet: Pope Benedict votes for US president
• New: WDTRPS: The Pope’s talk in the Cathedral of São Paolo
• New: Zaodk Romanus: Pope to Brazilian Bishops: It's about Christ!
• Zadok Romanus: Mis-reporting surely... (re: the "internet Mass proposal")
• WDTPRS: Hell’s Bible coverage of the Pope in Brazil
• Related post: What about those Galvao "miracle pills"?

Catholic media coverage/analysis:

• AsiaNews.It: Teach the faith and Christian morality in this age of “of worrying disorientation,” says Pope
• Zenit: Benedict XVI's Address to Brazil's Bishops // Pope Proclaims Brazilian Saint a Model // Enzo, a Miracle Attributed to Blessed Galvão // Papal Meeting With Religious Leaders Fraternal // The Pope and a Farm of Hope // Benedict XVI Shows a Jubilant Style
• CWNews: Pope proclaims first Brazilian saint
• CNS: Pope canonizes Brazilian friar renowned for charity, healings // Brazilians in need, physical or spiritual, seek St. Galvao's pills
• CNA: Pope Benedict canonizes First Brazilian Saint and makes call for reconciliation with God // Pope meets with President of Brazil at Sao Paulo governor’s mansion // Pope Benedict XVI to distribute 10 millionth copy of Child's Bible
• AsiaNews.it: Only from God does true revolution come, says Pope
• CWNews: Pope Benedict in Brazil: Thursday roundup // Pope Benedict in Brazil: Friday roundup
• CNA: Miraculous conception paves way for canonization of first Brazilian saint

Mainstream coverage (linked not necessarily for accuracy, but to remain informed):

• Reuters: Pope decries hedonism to Latin American faithful
• TIME: Pope Canonizes First Brazilian Saint
• TIME: Benedict and Latin America's Catholic Leftists
• BBC: Profile: Saint Antonio Galvao
• UK Telegraph: Pope canonises saint in front of a million
• Pope canonizes 1st Brazilian-born saint (AP)
• Pope's outdoor mass in Brazil draws huge crowd (Reuters)
• BBC News: Pope creates Brazil's first saint: "Following the Mass, the Pope was due to meet some 430 Brazilian bishops at a Sao Paulo cathedral."
• Audio: Pope Makes Appeal to Brazil's Youth (NPR)
• Bishops at odds with Pope over internet Mass (Telegraph UK)
• BBC News' Reporter's Diary
• Associated Press: Pope to Canonize First Brazilian Saint

From this morning's Vatican Information Service:

VATICAN CITY, MAY 11, 2007 (VIS) - Today in Sao Paulo's "Campo de Marte" field at 9.30 a.m. (2.30 p.m. in Rome), the Pope will preside at Mass during which he will canonize Blessed Antonio de Santa Ana Galvao O.F.M., known as Frei Galvao, who will thus become the first native-born Brazilian saint.

At 4 p.m. (9 p.m. in Rome), having bid farewell to his hosts at the monastery of Sao Bento, the Holy Father will meet and address Brazilian bishops in Sao Paulo's "da Se" cathedral.

At 6 p.m. local time, the Holy Father is due to depart by helicopter from Campo de Marte airport and fly to Aparecida, site of Brazil's most famous shrine which each year welcomes around eight million faithful.

The origins of the Aparecida shrine date back to the discovery of an image of the Virgin in the year 1717. Three fishermen, after various fruitless attempts at a catch, threw out their nets once more and drew up a small statue of Our Lady, dark in color and without a head. Casting their nets again, they discovered the head and, at the third attempt, drew in their nets full of fish. The three recognized in this event a sign of the divine protection of the Virgin. From that year on, veneration of Our Lady started to spread among the people who called her simply "Aparecida."

Having landed at the shrine's heliport Benedict XVI will go to the "Bom Jesus" missionary seminary where he will dine and spend the night.

The rest:

Special thanks to Amy Welborn, Domenico Bettinelli, Gerald Augustinus and Rocco Palmo for inviting their readers to my coverage. Special thanks also to Teresa Benedetta and the other regular contributors of the PapaRatzingerForum for their incredible industry and dedication to all things Papa Benny!

Note: For the especially-motivated, even more interesting facts, photos & video here.

Note 2: tba

[photo credit & captions: (1) Pope Benedict XVI celebrates mass in the Campo de Marte military airport in Sao Paulo May 11, 2007. Friar Galvao, born in 1739 in the nearby city of Guaratingueta as Antonio de Sant'Anna Galvao, ordained a Franciscan priest and considered the author of many miracles during his lifetime, will be canonized by the Pope during the mass. REUTERS/Caetano Barreira (BRAZIL) (2) Pope Benedict XVI carries a censer during his visit to Campo de Marte in Sao Paulo. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have filled a Sao Paulo park for an open-air mass during which the pontiff canonized Brazil's first saint. (AFP/Antonio Scorza) (3) A priest watches an image of Jesus in front of a picture of Brazilian Franciscan monk Antonio Galvao before a mass for his canonization by Pope Benedict XVI in Sao Paulo, Friday, May 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Dado Galdieri)]

Day Two: Benedict in Brazil

*Day Three Coverage HERE*

Pope Benedict continues his sixth apostolic journey for the second day today. This is his first papal trip outside of Europe (excluding Turkey), traveling in the most populous Catholic country in the world, Brazil. Please stay tuned for complete coverage.

NB: Complete roundup of coverage here, top photos of the trip here.

Thursday's papal itinerary (all times EST):

8.00-10:30 Private Mass at the Chapel of the Monastery
11.00-12:00 Visit to the President of the Republic
12.30 Meeting with the representatives of other Christian confessions and religions
13.15 Luncheon with the representatives of the Episcopal Conference of Brazil (CNBB)
18.00-20:00 Meeting with the youth at "Paulo Machado de Carvalho" municipal Stadium [Address of the Holy Father]
20.30 Arrival at the Monastery of São Bento, São Paulo.

Best of the Best & Breaking News:

• Photos: Pope Meets With Youth (AmericanPapist selections)
• For tomorrow/controversy: Bishops at odds with Pope over internet Mass
• Breaking: Pope: Youth Must Avoid 'Snares of Evil' (AP) // In a strong-worded message, Pope calls on Latin American youth to discover, follow God's call (CNA)
• Controversy: No mention of abortion as Pope meets Lula: "Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, met Pope Benedict XVI today amid growing controversy over abortion. Presidential aides told reporters that the issue was not mentioned during their 30-minute meeting in Sao Paulo's Bandeirantes palace. Instead the two men focused on poverty reduction and biofuel production, they said. Before the meeting, however, Brazilian newspapers reported that President Lula was bracing himself for criticism over recent comments in which he described abortion as a "public health issue".
• Noteworthy: Vatican tones down papal remarks on pro-abortion Catholic politicians: "Pope Benedict XVI's comments on excommunication for pro-abortion Catholic politicians touched on huge and sensitive issues -- so sensitive that the Vatican issued a toned-down version of his remarks the following day....The pope's opening "yes" to the direct question about excommunication had disappeared, and so had the references to Mexican bishops....In the rest of the edited version, some of the pope's verbs were changed to make his remarks more generic. Asked about the changes, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, told reporters May 10 that it was routine for the Vatican Secretariat of State to review the pope's extemporaneous remarks and clean them up a little for publication."
• Humor: Today's Papist-picture-of-the-Day.

Important general links:

• AP Photo feed
• EWTN's video coverage
• Vatican video feed
• Vatican complete itinerary of the journey
• Vatican overview page of the journey
• Official Latin American Bishops's conference page (spanish)
• Official Archdiocese of San Paolo welcome page (some english)
• PapaRaziForum coverage thread
• AmericanPapist(this blog)'s complete pre-visit coverage.

Papal texts and transcripts:

• New: Text of Pope's Meeting with Youth
• Welcome ceremony at the International Airport of São Paulo/Guarulhos - Address (May 9, 2007)
• Greeting and blessing from the balcony of the Monastery of São Bento in São Paulo - Greeting (May 9, 2007)

Most recent headlines:

• New York Times: Pope Addresses Brazil’s Youth and Meets With the President

Notable St. Blog's coverage:

• Whispers in the Loggia: First Day of the Trip: with the "First Protagonists of the Millennium" // The Soul Plane Line Dance -- Benedict: A "More Dynamic" Church; Lombardi: "No Intention" of Excommunication
• WDTPRS: Italian coverage of the Pope’s “excommunication” answer // Italian text of abortion question to Pope on the airplane
• Update: Bettnet: "The crux of what the Pope said about pro-abort pols"
• In the Light of the Law: Legislating in mid-air? First thoughts: possible, but not likely.

Catholic media coverage/analysis:

• Audio: Vatican Radio: The Pope & the Young; The Beauty of Diversity; Survival in the
  Amazon
• Zenit: Pope to Youth: The Church Needs You - Says Christ Is Calling Them to Be Saints
• CNS: Enthusiastic Brazilian youths welcome pope with song, dance, prayers
• AsiaNews.it: Pope: Youth, do not waste your life; build a just and fraternal society
• CNA: Pope arrives in Brazil stressing Christian duty to defend life, solidarity // Holy Father holds short meeting with President Lula da Silva // Pope addresses young crowd in English
• CNS: Vatican tones down papal remarks on pro-abortion Catholic politicians
• CWNews: Pope's 2nd day in Brazil begins quietly //Papal goal: "missionary impetus" for Latin Church

Mainstream coverage (linked not necessarily for accuracy, but to remain informed):

• New York Times: Pope Addresses Brazil’s Youth and Meets With the President
• Los Angelas Times: Pope's abortion comments changed by Vatican
• Reuters: Stay off sex and drugs, Pope tells Brazil's youth
• AP: Vatican changes transcript of abortion remarks
• Reuters: Pope seeks to win over Brazil's youth
• Guardian Unlimited: No mention of abortion as Pope meets Lula

From this morning's Vatican Information Service:

Summary of Apostolic Trip to Brazil (May-9-10):

CHRISTIAN VALUES WILL NEVER BE ERADICATED
POPE REPLIES TO JOURNALISTS' IN-FLIGHT QUESTIONS
VISIT TO PRESIDENT LULA AND MEETING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE

The rest:

Special thanks to Amy Welborn and Domenico Bettinelli for inviting their readers to my coverage. Special thanks also to Teresa Benedetta and the other regular contributors of the PapaRatzingerForum for their incredible industry and dedication to all things Papa Benny!

Note: For the especially-motivated, even more interesting facts, photos & video here.

Note 2: I intend to watch Pope Benedict's visit with young people on EWTN today [here] at 5PM EST, and might do some "live blogging" in the commentbox below....

[photo credit & captions: (1) Pope Benedict XVI is cheered by faithful as he leaves Sao Bento Monastery - AP Photo/L'osservatore Romano. (2) Brazilian nuns wait for a public meeting with Pope Benedict XVI outside Pacaembu stadium - AP Photo/Dado Galdieri. (3) Catholic pilgrims cry after Pope Benedict XVI appears on the balcony of the Sao Bento monastery - AFP/Martin Bernatti.]

Day One: Benedict in Brazil

*Day Two Coverage HERE*

Pope Benedict begins his sixth apostolic journey today, his first papal trip outside of Europe (excluding Turkey), to the most populous Catholic country in the world, Brazil. Please stay tuned for complete coverage.

Today's papal itinerary (all times EST):

4:30 - Arrival at the International Airport of São Paulo/Guarulhos.
Welcome ceremony at the International Airport of São Paulo/Guarulhos [Papal address]
5:30 - Transfer by helicopter from the International Airport of São Paulo/Guarulhos to the Campo de Marte Airport in São Paulo
6:00 - Arrival at Campo de Marte Airport in São Paulo. Welcome by the local authorities
6:10 - Transfer by "popemobile" from Campo de Marte Airport to the Monastery of São Bento in São Paulo
6:45 - Arrival to the Monastery of São Bento in São Paulo
Greeting and blessing from the balcony of the Monastery of São Bento in São Paulo [Papal address]

Best of the Best & Breaking News:

• Photos of Day One here (AmP selections), photos of the crows greeting the Pope here.
• Updated: Ed Peters contextualizes and explains the Pope's comments regarding excommunication and politicians who support abortion
• Breaking: Pope does not intend to excommunicate anyone (AP): "[Lombardi said] Since excommunication hasn't been declared by the Mexican bishops, the pope has no intention himself of declaring it," said Lombardi, who was on board the plane. "Legislative action in favor of abortion is incompatible with participation in the Eucharist. ... Politicians exclude themselves from Communion." [More here.]
• Breaking: Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Brazil (AP) - Photos here.
• Humor: Today's Papist-picture-of-the-Day.

Important general links:

• AP Photo feed
• EWTN's video coverage (begins at 3:30PM, rebroadcast 9pm)
• Vatican video feed
• Vatican complete itinerary of the journey
• Vatican overview page of the journey
• Official Latin American Bishops's conference page (spanish)
• Official Archdiocese of San Paolo welcome page (some english)
• PapaRaziForum coverage thread
• AmericanPapist(this blog)'s complete pre-visit coverage.

Papal texts and transcripts:

• John Allen's transcript of the Pope's conference aboard his plane

Most recent headlines:

• CNS: Pope says he wants to help reinforce Christian values, counter threats
• CWNews: Pope begins voyage to Brazil [Updated]

Notable St. Blog's coverage:

• Open Book: The Pope in Brazil
• Whispers in the Loggia: No Caminho....
• The Benedict Blog: Preparing for Pope Benedict's Trip to Brazil
• BettNet: Pope on excommunicating pro-abort pols

Catholic media coverage/analysis:

• CWNews: Pro-abortion politicians excommunicated, Pope says
• CWNews: Brazilian soccer superstar excited by papal visit
• Kath.net: Pope Departs on his Apostolic Trip to Brazil ("The 9,477-kilometer flight is expected to last twelve and a half hours.")
• LifeSiteNews: Pope Supports Excommunication for Pro-Abortion Politicians - "Incompatible with Receiving Communion"
• CWNews: Pope likely to discuss violence, poverty with Brazilian president
• CWNews: Pope begins voyage to Brazil
• CWNews: Liberation theology: Pope Benedict offers perspectives
• Sandro Magister: Benedict XVI Is in Brazil. But Meanwhile, the "Latinos" Are Invading the North
• CNS: Pope tells reporters church must keep fighting abortion, poverty
• CWNews: Pro-abortion politicians excluded from Communion: Pope

Mainstream coverage:

• John Allen: Inside the papal plane
• BBC News: Pope embarks on Brazilian visit
• BBC News: Pope's Brazil tour: Reporter's diary
• Reuters: Pope warns Catholic politicians who back abortion
• AP: Mexico City Politicians In Hot Holy Water
• Time: Brazil Welcomes a Very Different Pope
• NYT: As Pope Heads to Brazil, Abortion Debate Heats Up

From this morning's Vatican Information Service:

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2007 (VIS) - At 9 a.m. this morning, the Pope departed by plane from Rome's Fiumicino airport bound for Brazil. The 9,477-kilometer flight is expected to last twelve and a half hours and the papal plane is scheduled to land at the international airport of Sao Paulo / Guarulhos in Brazil at 4.30 p.m. local time, 9.30 p.m. in Rome.

The Holy Father will be greeted at the airport by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of the Federal Republic of Brazil. Following the welcome ceremony, during which Benedict XVI will deliver a talk, the Pope will travel by helicopter to the "Campo de Marte" airport where he will be received by the local authorities.

At 6.10 p.m. (11.10 p.m. in Rome), the Holy Father will travel by popemobile to the monastery of Sao Bento where he will be staying during his time in Sao Paulo. The complex of buildings includes, apart from the Benedictine monastery, the Sao Benito College, one of the most prestigious schools in Sao Paulo, and the basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption.

Following a moment of prayer in the monastery's chapel, the Pope will appear at the balcony to greet and bless the faithful gathered below.

The rest:

Special thanks to Amy Welborn and Domenico Bettinelli for inviting their readers to my coverage. Special thanks also to Teresa Benedetta and the other regular contributors of the PapaRatzingerForum for their incredible industry and dedication to all things Papa Benny!

Note: For the especially-motivated, even more interesting facts, photos & video here.

Note 2: I'll be posting comments in the comment box below as I watch live TV coverage of the Pope today. You are more than welcome to do the same!

[photo credit: REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli (ITALY)]
[photp captions: (1) Pope Benedict XVI descends from his personal helicopter as he arrives at Rome's Fiumicino International airport to leave for Brazil. (2) The Alitalia Boeing 777-200 plane, with Pope Benedict XVI onboard, leaves the Rome's Leonardo da Vinci international airport. (3) Pope Benedict XVI boards an Alitalia Boeing 777-200 plane at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci international airport.]

What to expect in Brazil (ongoing post including photos & video)

(this post is an alalgam of content gleaned from the PapaRatzingerForum for those especially interested in learning more about Pope Benedict's trip to Brazil.)

A few highlights of Pope Benedict's trip to Brazil:

• Pope Benedict will pray in Portuguese during his visit
• Mass attendance of up to two million persons
• Two pope mobiles and three helicopters on-call
• 3200 journalists will be covering the visit

Pictures related to this trip:

• San Paolo's downtown, population 8 million
• Beaches of Rio de Janeiro
• The basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (outside) - it can hold 75k persons
• The basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (altar) - "in the round" style...
• The basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (back) - better sense of dimensions
• graphically-enhanced image of soccer stadium where Pope Benedict will speak to youth
• graphically-enhanced image of soccer stadium, visualized at night
• Pope Benedict's slippers
• commemorative Brazilian stamp

Embedded video for a computer-generated visualisation of the Pope's Mass at Aparacedia:

Additional multimedia/video content:

• An interactive map of the places Pope Benedict will visit is available here.
• Italian video coverage via SkyTV here.
• Brazilian video coverage via Globo here.

Benedict's mission, and the MSM's counter-attack

The mainstream media's tactics represented today by the Washington Post's foreign service:

When Pope Benedict XVI lands here Wednesday for his first visit to Latin America since becoming pontiff, he will set foot in a region considered by many here to be the heart of his church, home to nearly half the world's Roman Catholics.

A clear challenge awaits him: to persuade them to stay true to a church that is losing thousands of adherents throughout the region every day.

The reality of Benedict's mission expressed and defended today by Cardinal Bertone:

About Benedict XVI's upcoming trip to Brazil, Cardinal Bertone said, "A lot of attention is being paid by the Church to Latin America and the situations that are already being widely analyzed, as well by the press and the media, on the occasion of the Pope's first intercontinental trip."

"We will see results," he affirmed. "We will also see the fruits of this trip, we will hear strong messages from the Pope and we hope that they will be heard, especially by the local communities and Churches, but also by politicians of every nation."

And no, this isn't a case of "us-vs-them-ism", this is about caring for the future of people's souls.

Benedict to Brazil: Tuesday news links

To be updated throughout the day as worthwhile headlines surface (most agencies are recycling old news and reports until the Pope actually sets foot in Brazil - so stay tuned!):

• CWNews: Pope set for voyage to Brazil
• AsiaNews: Pope: in Brazil to take on modern world challenges facing Church

Update:

• via AMDG, ChristianityToday: Brazil's Base Communities
• Reuters: Brazil's Lula says abortion issue cannot be ignored
• Whispers: Benedict's Brazilian Host
• Curt Jester: Framing the Trip
• AP: Brazilians rally against abortion ahead of pope's visit
• Scotsman: Pope lands in Brazil to find faith on the mend
• AP: Pope heading to Brazil on first trip to Latin America
• NYT: Brazilians Welcome Pope but Question His Perspective

Special Mention:

• John Allen: Background on Brazil: Inside the papal plane
• Bettnet: "Phil Lawler at Catholic World News reminds us in his daily note that Pope Benedict wasn’t just invited to Brazil; he suggested the trip himself, a very unusual move. He also arranged carefully his plans for his meeting with the bishops. This all suggests that he has a message to deliver. Keep that in mind."

VIS on Brazil population statistics

From this morning's Vatican Information Service:

STATISTICS CONCERNING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BRAZIL

Brazil has a population of 184,180 million, of whom 155,628 million (84.5 percent) are Catholic. There are 269 ecclesiastical circumscriptions, 9,504 parishes and 36,729 pastoral centers of other kinds. Currently there are 427 bishops, 18,087 diocesan and regular priests, 2,676 male religious, 33,765 female religious, 2,015 lay members of secular institutes, 72,704 lay missionaries and 492,370 catechists. Minor seminarians number 3,858, and major seminarians 9,450.

A total of 2,472,348 children and young people attend 6,073 centers of Catholic education, from kindergartens to universities. Other charitable and social institutions belonging to the Church, or run by priests or religious in Brazil include 366 hospitals, 1,013 clinics, 764 homes for the elderly or disabled, 1,942 orphanages and nurseries, 2,159 family counseling centers and other pro-life centers, and 2,830 centers for education and social rehabilitation.

Benedict's visit to Brazil will be his sixth trip outside Italy as Pope.

Perhaps, in a glancing way, this was published to respond to the constant barrage of news headlines and articles claiming that the Brazilian Catholic Church is in steep decline?

What about those miraculous "Galvao pills"?

These tiny pills, made out of rice paper, bear words that read, in Latin, "After birth, the Virgin remained intact. Mother of God, intercede on our behalf" and are associated with numerous miraculous healings as well as the intercession of Friar Galvao. They are the prime devotional example of Friar Galvao's significant reputation as a healing saint, and for that reason they deserve some study and background.

This article explains a bit more about their current production and use:

[The pills are] assembled in five locations around Sao Paulo state, including by women in Galvao's hometown of Guaratingueta, who gather every afternoon in a room above the local cathedral. The pills also are made by cloistered nuns at the Convent of Light in Sao Paulo, where Galvao died in 1832 at age 83.

Believers swallow three seed-sized pills over nine days, during which they recite the prayer printed on the paper.

"It's a vehicle of faith," said Grossi de Almeida, who miscarried twice, including losing twins, before Enzzo was born. "You take the pills, and you believe in them, you believe they will make you better, and you become stronger in your faith. You know there's a God that helps you."

{snip}

The monk started the tradition of the pills in the late 18th century when he wrote his famous prayer on three pieces of paper in Sao Paulo and asked a woman who was having a difficult pregnancy to eat them. She reportedly went on to give birth to a healthy child. Demand for the pills surged.

Things get even more interesting because both of the two documented cases of miraculous healings that were used in Galvao's canonization process involved the consumption of the his pills.

This interview conducted with an Auxiliary Bishop of Brazil by John Allen, however, implies that the pills did not enjoy a significant devotion or episcopal endorsement prior to the announcement of Galvao's impending canonization:

Q: Some have criticized the devotion to Frei Galvao as superstitious and tinged with elements of folk magic. Cardinal Aloísio Leo Arlindo Lorscheider said in 1998 that he considered the devotion “ridiculous,” and prohibited the local nuns from making the pills. (The sisters kept going anyway.) How is the canonization being received by the mainstream of the church?

A: I’m really not sure. Frankly, I didn’t know about this thing with the pill until recently. It wasn’t known in Brazil, it’s a very localized thing. It was not anything well known or popular. Now that it’s become official, obviously the church recognizes that something miraculous happened.

Sales (or more precisely, "distributions", since I presume they are give out free of charge) are rising quickly, and "devotion to Galvao is surging before the pope's visit, [with] tens of thousands of his pills ... being hand-made and distributed every day." [source.]

Not surprisingly, some critics and skeptics are claiming that Galvao's canonization is a "Holy opportunity" in which the Church has a chance to make a profit:

... experts believe that the canonization of the friar is extremely opportune. It represents a Catholic reaction to try to block the growth of the evangelicals and promote a return to links with the Catholic universe. “When the Catholic Church releases medallions carrying the pope’s head for sale, it is responding to an existing demand which will also in some way increase a religious bond. In the case of the canonization of Friar Galvão, for example, it is creating a new fact which will probably lead to pilgrimages, stimulate religious tourism and make possible the sale of products. In this case, it is not just about marketing, but also the mobilization of emotions and sentiments. The Church is mobilizing people to buy the medallion, to go and see the pope and to buy Friar Galvão’s prayer pills,” analyzes the sociologist Maria das Dores Machado. [source.]

But of course, a similar accusation could be made about any saint's canonization.

Certainly, these pills are subject to pious abuses concerning their efficacy to produce physical miracles in a gauranteed manner. This article by the AFP tries to provide some examples of that. What one has to keep in mind is that the efficacy of the pills would seem to be not the physical consumption of the rice paper (though it is a helpful sign), but the concomitant recitation of the accompanying prayers, the expression of faith in God's power to heal, invocation of Friar Galvao's intercession, etc. I think the news reports error in presuming that many people believe that the actual rice paper - let alone some sort of "quasi-mystical imbuing" of the pills - is the cause of the healing. And I would hope that if one were to press someone practicing the devotion on this question they would be able to make the distinction. But I'm only able to surmise.

Nonetheless, from my examination of a few articles, it seems to me that these pills are a legitimate devotion within the local church of Brazil (while of course a saint is proclaimed so for the benefit of the universal Church), and it will be fascinating to see if Pope Benedict makes reference to the pills during the canonization of Friar Galvao or elsewhere during the course of his journey. He is, for instance, visiting a drug rehabilitation center, which would be another prime example to talk about Friar Galvao's healing legacy, at least in general terms.

Now that I think about it, do any comment box wags want to propose a clever way for the Pope to tell his audience that they need to switch from "bad pill popping" to "miracle pill popping"?

(Okay, I'll stop myself right here!)

[photo: AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano]

Roundup: Pope Benedict visits Brazil (AmericanPapist coverage)

(This post will be updated throughout Pope Benedict's visit to Brazil.
Please link here for coverage. Update: If you've enjoyed the coverage thus far, please consider voting for AmericanPapist in this year's Blogger's Choice Awards. Thanks! )

Sunday:

• Fifth and Final Day: Benedict in Brazil
• Humor: The Papist-Picture-of-the-Day (PPOTD)
• Photos: Final Day in Photos

Saturday:

• Day Four: Benedict in Brazil
• Photo: Waiting for the Pope in Rural Brazil
• Photos: L'Osservatore Romano gets the best shots
• Humor: The Papist-Picture-of-the-Day (PPOTD)

Friday:

• Day Three: Benedict in Brazil
• Photos: Canonization Mass of Bl. Galvao
• Humor: The Papist-Picture-of-the-Day (PPOTD)

Thursday:

• Photos: Pope meets with youth
• Day Two: Benedict in Brazil
• Humor: The Papist-Picture-of-the-Day (PPOTD)

Wednesday:

• Photo: the Pope in Prayer, First Night
• Photos of the crowds greeting Pope Benedict
• Photos of Pope Benedict's first day in Brazil
• Humor: The Papist-Picture-of-the-Day (PPOTD)
• Pope Benedict in Brazil, Day One, complete coverage
• What to expect in Brazil (including extra photos & video)
• Vatican's clarification re: Pope's comments on excommunication, abortion.

Pre-visit coverage:

• Tuesday: Photos of Brazil (2), detailing final preparations
• Tuesday: Tuesday news highlights + VIS Brazil statistics
• Monday: Photos of Brazil, including places Benedict will visit
• Monday: Monday news highlights
• Information: What about those miraculous "Galvao pills"?
• Analysis: Benedict to Focus on the Youth of Brazil
• 3 Days Before: Benedict Preparing to Visit the "Continent of Hope"
• Analysis: Media's Pre-Visit Characterization of Benedict's Visit to Brazil
• 7 Days Before: Roundup of all previous coverage including links

Of related interest: Amazing Papist Video - "Benoit XVI"