Pope Francis is spending his first full day in Brazil resting, one day after he was greeted by thousands of cheering faithful.
The pontiff's motorcade was mobbed Monday as he rode through the streets of Rio de Janeiro shortly after he arrived for a week long visit. Security officers struggled to push back joyous crowds, while the pope rolled down the window of his car to touch spectators.
Later, anti-government protesters clashed with police outside the palace where the official papal welcoming ceremony was held. Reports from the scene said the crowd's anger appeared directed at Brazilian leaders, not at the pontiff.
On Sunday police in the neighboring state of Sao Paulo said they safely detonated a small, homemade explosive device found in a parking garage at Our Lady of Aparecida, the national shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Pope Francis will visit the shrine on Wednesday.
Police described the explosive as low-powered and said it was not clear whether it was related to the papal visit.
The pope's heavily policed visit comes at a time of social upheaval in Brazil that began last month with protests against a bus fare increase in Sao Paulo. Those demonstrations quickly grew into massive street protests against government expenditures for hosting the 2014 Word Cup soccer tournament, and spread to include protests against official corruption.
The Rio visit and the return to Francis' home continent is set to coincide with Thursday's international celebration of World Youth Day. More than 1 million young Catholics are expected to participate in the event.
In addition to his planned visit to the shrine in Sao Paulo, the pontiff will also meet with young inmates at a Rio prison, visit shantytowns largely cleared of drug traffickers earlier this year, and inaugurate a Rio hospital wing for the treatment of drug addicts.
Aboard his flight from Rome, the pope told journalists he is worried that the world, with high jobless rates for young people, is running "the risk of having a generation without work," even though he said work confers dignity.
He also criticized the "culture of rejection" of the elderly, saying they should not be "thrown away" by cultures that concentrate on everything new.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
The pontiff's motorcade was mobbed Monday as he rode through the streets of Rio de Janeiro shortly after he arrived for a week long visit. Security officers struggled to push back joyous crowds, while the pope rolled down the window of his car to touch spectators.
Later, anti-government protesters clashed with police outside the palace where the official papal welcoming ceremony was held. Reports from the scene said the crowd's anger appeared directed at Brazilian leaders, not at the pontiff.
On Sunday police in the neighboring state of Sao Paulo said they safely detonated a small, homemade explosive device found in a parking garage at Our Lady of Aparecida, the national shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Pope Francis will visit the shrine on Wednesday.
Police described the explosive as low-powered and said it was not clear whether it was related to the papal visit.
The pope's heavily policed visit comes at a time of social upheaval in Brazil that began last month with protests against a bus fare increase in Sao Paulo. Those demonstrations quickly grew into massive street protests against government expenditures for hosting the 2014 Word Cup soccer tournament, and spread to include protests against official corruption.
The Rio visit and the return to Francis' home continent is set to coincide with Thursday's international celebration of World Youth Day. More than 1 million young Catholics are expected to participate in the event.
In addition to his planned visit to the shrine in Sao Paulo, the pontiff will also meet with young inmates at a Rio prison, visit shantytowns largely cleared of drug traffickers earlier this year, and inaugurate a Rio hospital wing for the treatment of drug addicts.
Aboard his flight from Rome, the pope told journalists he is worried that the world, with high jobless rates for young people, is running "the risk of having a generation without work," even though he said work confers dignity.
He also criticized the "culture of rejection" of the elderly, saying they should not be "thrown away" by cultures that concentrate on everything new.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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