On board the papal plane to Rio: a journalist's perspective

(Vatican Radio) Among the dozens of international journalists who are closely following Pope Francis’ visit to Brazil is veteran Vatican watcher John Allen of the U.S. weekly National Catholic Reporter. After the papal plane touched down in Rio de Janeiro, he talked to Sean-Patrick Lovett about the distinguishing features of this XXVIII World Youth Day, which he says has already taken on fascinating new insights under the pontificate of the first Pope from Latin America….

Listen:

"I was struck on the plane when he outlined his own vision....he wants to see youth inserted into the social fabric and in particular with an eye to the elderly....he wants World Youth Day to have this spirit of outreach to all those who are forgotten, particularly with this preferential option for those at either end of life.....for those of us who've watched the development of World Youth Day over the years, this is a fascinating insight into what World Youth Day is and can become....

Pope Francis didn't want to do a press conference.....but he gave us a five minute reflection on his own vision for World Youth Day....then he stood and greeted us one by one for almost an hour....what I did was to mention that we'd met in 2001 when he'd taken over from New York Cardinal Edward Egan as relator for the Synod of Bishops......then I said I'd had the opportunity to go to Argentina after the conclave to meet his sister....he looked at me and laughed and said, 'She likes to talk a lot', and I said, 'Yes, yes, Holy Father, she certainly does', and he said 'She was probably a good source for you', and I said, 'Yes, she was fantastic........"