Half a million Catholics flock to Copacabana beach
The event begun on Tuesday with Musicians and dancers entertaining the youths, who braved a chilly drizzle. The beach, lined with a series of large monitors, was the site of an evening Mass by local priests and Vatican officials. Later in the week it will serve as an altar for two big appearances by Pope Francis.
By early this morning already hundreds of thousands of people had packed the beach. Rain clouds cleared in time and pilgrims from around the world waved flags, sang and prayed as the archbishop of Rio, Orani João Tempesta, led a mass to kick off the festivities in the country with the world's greatest number of Roman Catholics.
However the main attraction of the weeklong event will be two appearances by the Pope, where he will lead a huge mass....