Pope Francis in Rio - Reflections on the first day
July 23, 2013: Sean-Patrick Lovett who heads the English Programme of Vatican
Radio is currently in Rio de Janeiro reporting on the Apostolic visit of Pope Francis
to the Brazilian nation on the occasion of the XXVIII World Youth Day. He, and others,
watched in amazement at the pictures of the Holy Father's car trying to make it to
the official opening ceremony. He ended up taking a helicopter instead.
Here
is Sean's report: Heads were shaking in disbelief – and other heads will surely
roll – after the Pope’s unscheduled drive-about through the centre of Rio on Monday
afternoon. It’s true that the 40-minute trip from the airport to the Cathedral was
unplanned, but it’s also true that the motorcade mistakenly took the wrong route and
ended up being blocked by congested traffic. People quickly swarmed around the car
and moments of high tension followed as security agents tried to control the swelling
masses that, at times, looked like they might engulf the vehicle completely. Only
after he transferred to an open jeep, did his drive through the city regain the tone
of dignity and celebration that allowed Pope Francis himself to relax and greet the
enthusiastic crowds with his characteristic warmth and spontaneity. By the time he
reached the Cathedral, hundreds of thousands of people had poured out into the streets,
determined to give him an authentic Latin American welcome.
That welcome took
on stately tones when the Pope reached the Governor’s Palace at Guanabara for the
official ceremonial greeting. This time he travelled by helicopter – which solved
the traffic issue and allowed him a spectacular view of Rio-by-night. It also helped
the organizers pick up some time as the Holy Father’s program was already running
one hour behind schedule. A side-effect of that papal delay was that the Vatican
Press Office Director’s press conference also started an hour late – to the consternation
of some very travel-weary, jet-lagged journalists who were hoping he would give them
the headlines they so desperately needed to trump the story of the royal baby. Responding
to journalist’s questions, Fr Lombardi began by down-playing the motorcade escapade,
adding that it was the Pope’s secretary who was upset while Pope Francis appeared
to be enjoying himself. He also revealed two other pieces of behind-the-scenes information.
Firstly that, during their private conversation at Guanabara Palace, the Brazilian
President had expressed her admiration for Pope Francis’ speech on the island of Lampedusa
two weeks ago. Secondly that, during the flight from Rome to Rio, the Pope spent 15
minutes chatting to the pilots in the cockpit – long enough for journalists to begin
wondering who was actually flying the plane. I wonder what the royal baby would have
to say about that…