Rio and the 2013 World Youth Day

[Guardian]

Today, Pope Benedict XVI announced, from Madrid in a mass, that Rio will host the next World Youth Day in 2013. Well, that is another international event slated for the city that is going to be on the spotlight for the World Cup and the Olympic Games. Congratulations to Rio in getting the event.

[DannyelBrazil]

Thank you.

It's good to see tha Rio is really in the mood.

Next year, Rio will host the UN Summit on Environmental Affairs.

Lots of events in the next years! =]

[danfla]

UFC Rio will happen on the next saturday.

[baron-pierreIV]

well, how come Rio couldn't get Miss Universo? That is far more important that UFI or World Youth Day!!

[DannyelBrazil]

The TV network that broadcasts Miss Universe in Brazil is Band (nickname for TV Bandeirantes), from Sao Paulo.

The word "Bandeirantes" is the second official denonym for Sao Paulo state and means "those who carry flags" as people from Sao Paulo were know in 17th century since they invaded Spanish lands in South America carrying Portugal flags and conquered the actual territory of Brazil.

So, meanwhile Bandeirantes be the official broadcast, everything they sponsor will be held in Sao Paulo, like Formula Indy and Miss Universe.

[Guardian]

The TV network that broadcasts Miss Universe in Brazil is Band (nickname for TV Bandeirantes), from Sao Paulo.

The word "Bandeirantes" is the second official denonym for Sao Paulo state and means "those who carry flags" as people from Sao Paulo were know in 17th century since they invaded Spanish lands in South America carrying Portugal flags and conquered the actual territory of Brazil.

So, meanwhile Bandeirantes be the official broadcast, everything they sponsor will be held in Sao Paulo, like Formula Indy and Miss Universe.

Speaking of Sao Paulo, it is now one of five cities that are candidates wanting to host Expo 2020. Link: Sao Paulo: Candidate for Expo 2020.

[DannyelBrazil]

I'm totally in favour of Sao Paulo hosting World Expo.

It fits perfectly the city.

Supporting since now this bid. Go Sao Paulo!

[gotosy]

Massive security awaits Pope Francis in Brazil

Brazil is rolling out a massive security operation to protect Pope Francis during his visit next week to deter any repetition of last month’s social unrest.

More than 1.5mn pilgrims from around the world are expected to flock to Rio de Janeiro for the July 22-28 visit during World Youth Day (WYD), a major Roman Catholic youth fest.

The Defence Ministry, which is coordinating security, is boosting from an initial 8,500 to 10,266 the number of army, air force and navy personnel to be deployed for the high-profile event.

The troop increase was decided due to “the massive street protests in June”, according to a ministry spokesman.

In addition to the armed forces, state security officials will launch “the biggest police operation in the city’s history”, said Roberto Alzir Dias Chaves, the undersecretary for major events.

So “7,000 police will beef up the city’s 12,000 police, in addition to 1,700 members of the elite National Force and units of the civilian, highway and federal police forces,” he said last week.

“It will be a bigger mobilisation than what occurred two years ago at the Madrid WYD,” he added, noting that the plan has been developed well before the June street protests.

The nationwide turmoil, held during the Confederations Cup, brought more than 1mn Brazilians onto the streets of various cities to demand an end to political corruption and greater investment in public services rather than in sporting events such as next year’s World Cup.

The unprecedented protests, co-ordinated via social media, were often marred by violence and acts of vandalism.

And officials initially feared that the unrest might flare anew during the papal visit to the world’s largest mostly Catholic country.

But presidential chief of staff Gilberto Carvalho and Catholic leaders are now confident that this will not happen “given the very nature of the event”.

“The pope will be safe here. And not because of the armed forces, but because of our people, our democracy, the sympathy he inspires since he represents a new hope not just for the Church but for mankind,” said Carvalho.

As a sign of easing concern, the pontiff will not use his traditional closed popemobile but instead two open jeeps, to be closer to the people.

However press reports said a so-called “beijaço”, a demonstration at which gay couples kiss each other on the lips, or massive distributions of condoms might take place along the papal motorcade’s route.

In Rio, the pontiff will tour a small shantytown in the northern district.

But the biggest security concern will focus on events on Copacabana beach where the pope will deliver a welcoming speech for the youth and in Guaratiba, 40km west of Rio where a papal mass and youth vigil will be held .

On July 24, the pontiff will travel to Aparecida, a pilgrimage site in Sao Paulo state, where more than 4000 troop will provide security.

The defence ministry spokesman said the armed forces will handle security in 10 areas, including control of the airspace, border surveillance, chemical and biological weapons, explosives trade, maritime defence and cyber-security.

AFP

http://www.gulf-times.com/us-latin%20america/182/details/359665/massive-security-awaits-pope-francis-in-brazil

[Rob2012]

Vatican offers 'time off purgatory' to followers of Pope Francis tweets

Papal court handling pardons for sins says contrite Catholics may win 'indulgences' by following World Youth Day on Twitter

In its latest attempt to keep up with the times the Vatican has married one of its oldest traditions to the world of social media by offering "indulgences" to followers of Pope Francis' tweets.

The church's granted indulgences reduce the time Catholics believe they will have to spend in purgatory after they have confessed and been absolved of their sins.

The remissions got a bad name in the Middle Ages because unscrupulous churchmen sold them for large sums of money. But now indulgences are being applied to the 21st century.

But a senior Vatican official warned web-surfing Catholics that indulgences still required a dose of old-fashioned faith, and that paradise was not just a few mouse clicks away.

"You can't obtain indulgences like getting a coffee from a vending machine," Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, head of the pontifical council for social communication, told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

Indulgences these days are granted to those who carry out certain tasks – such as climbing the Sacred Steps, in Rome (reportedly brought from Pontius Pilate's house after Jesus scaled them before his crucifixion), a feat that earns believers seven years off purgatory.

But attendance at events such as the Catholic World Youth Day, in Rio de Janeiro, a week-long event starting on 22 July, can also win an indulgence.

Mindful of the faithful who cannot afford to fly to Brazil, the Vatican's sacred apostolic penitentiary, a court which handles the forgiveness of sins, has also extended the privilege to those following the "rites and pious exercises" of the event on television, radio and through social media.

"That includes following Twitter," said a source at the penitentiary, referring to Pope Francis' Twitter account, which has gathered seven million followers. "But you must be following the events live. It is not as if you can get an indulgence by chatting on the internet."

In its decree, the penitentiary said that getting an indulgence would hinge on the beneficiary having previously confessed and being "truly penitent and contrite".

Praying while following events in Rio online would need to be carried out with "requisite devotion", it suggested.

Apart from the papal Twitter account, the Vatican has launched an online news portal supported by an app, a Facebook page, and it plans to use the online social networking site Pinterest.

"What really counts is that the tweets the Pope sends from Brazil or the photos of the Catholic World Youth Day that go up on Pinterest produce authentic spiritual fruit in the hearts of everyone," said Celli.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/16/vatican-indulgences-pope-francis-tweets?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Fox334]

Vatican offers 'time off purgatory' to followers of Pope Francis tweets

...are you sure this isn't an Onion article?

[Sir Rols]

Which chapter of the Bible deals with social media?

[DannyelBrazil]

Which chapter of the Bible deals with social media?

I heard Genesis was about video games...

[Sir Rols]

I heard Genesis was about video games...

I figured it out. It must be the Book of (Steve) Jobs.

[gotosy]

Pic

Pope Francis waves to faithful as he arrives in Rio de Janeiro July 22, 2013. Welcomed by a committee of local dignitaries, including President Dilma Rousseff, Francis waved to onlookers before proceeding to a motorcade through Rio's city center, where local Catholics, visiting pilgrims and the curious were gathered to receive him

[Rob2012]

OK, so we've got the creepy looking mascot waving to the crowds, but where's the Olympic torch?

[DannyelBrazil]

Things you will only see in Brazil

The Pope, in a small compact Fiat Idea (his request), with opened window, stuck in a traffic jam (again, he requested to go through Presidente Vargas Avenue to see the people) with thousands of people jumping around his car.

I'm not catholic, but it was a special and very unseen moment. At least, from a mediatic POV.

[DannyelBrazil]

Amazing that he opened the window himself (it's a simple car without electrical windows in the back seat) and kept it opened all the time.
As reported by newspapers in Brazil, the security staff and the Brazilian Federal Police were desperate with the requests of Pope Francis... hahaha

[paul]

[DannyelBrazil]

"Don't complain about the Pope be Argentine, God is Brazilian" - Pope Francis during the flight from Rome to Rio

He is the second Pope to claim the nationality of God to Brazil - funny

[cslopes54]

So wasn't there a big chaos in Rio with transportation bc of this event? I'm watching the news and the train system lost power, and not enough buses(?) people were stuck in the subway and some spent the night on the streets. BAD example! This is not a huge event

[DannyelBrazil]

So far, it was calculated at least 800,000+ visitants and this is not huge event???

Add almost 1 million people to any city of the world from night to day and things will change for sure. In fact, things seems to work smoothly in Rio.

Yes, the subway had a problem not related to the demand of people, but a energy cable had a failure. And it was fixed in less than 2 hours. Tell me, Boston subway never broke up?

What international media wins by always only show bad side of anything that happens in Brazil???

We're watching live 24/7 footage of Rio and 99% of people are having great time, still a failure in a cable in Rio's subway is more important to news than the event itself...

"Subway failure raise doubts about transportation in Rio"...

[cslopes54]

Doesn't matter if its huge or not, I go with I watch on the news from TV Globo the brazilian broadcaster. It didn't look so simple. Glad it's fixed (?) lol

[DannyelBrazil]

Good you watch the news I produce so far from here, so you know how big is the event and how not big was the problemin the subway.

I agree, it's not good to evacuate wagons of subway inside tunnels (the footage pilgrims made in the tunnels are not good, for sure), still, better to walk in the tunnels than be kept in a can of metal inside a dark role, right?

And as I told before, does the subway of your lovely city never had a failure?
Oh, some months ago, Boston's Subway stopped for an entire DAY because of a communication failure due meteorological stuff.
http://www.wcvb.com/weather/Communications-failure-hampers-efforts-to-restore-MBTA-service/-/9850416/18448990/-/184oux/-/index.html
"Subway failure raises doubts about Boston's chances to 2024 Olympics" anyone?

Plus: Subway is vital in the moving from North-Downtown-South zones of Rio. It's a mass transportation system, if it collapses, even one of biggest fleet of buses of the world (Almost 10,000 buses in Rio) could not be enough for a demand increased in more than 25% in the last days. Still, it was a problem solved QUICKLY.

[gotosy]

Pope blesses Olympic flag, greets athletes

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) —

Pope Francis has blessed the Olympic flag, joining a long list of popes who have shown an interest in the positive role sport can play in society.

Francis greeted some of Brazil's Olympic athletes during a brief visit to Rio's City Palace on Thursday. From the balcony, he blessed the Olympic flag with holy water and imparted a blessing on those gathered. Rio de Janeiro is hosting the 2016 Summer Games.

Later Thursday, Francis heads to one of Rio's favela slums in a highlight of his weeklong trip to Brazil.

On the eve of the London Olympics, then-Pope Benedict XVI issued a message saying he hoped the 2012 Games would help promote peace and friendship. Pope John XXIII greeted Olympians in Rome for the 1960 Games.

AP

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-blesses-olympic-flag-greets-athletes-131709002.html

[paul]

a blessing is always very nice.

i think that flag needs cleaned, some Brazilian probably got tanning oil all over it, at least I hope its tanning oil. ewww