Pope Francis, born in Argentina, maintained a relationship of proximity to Brazil. In July 2013, Francisco's first apostolic trip went to Brazil. He came to the country on the occasion of the 28th World Youth Day (JMJ), the first event of the type in a Portuguese -speaking country and the second in South America. The event was held in Rio de Janeiro.
Moreover, during his papacy, there were many references to the country with the most faithful Catholic in the world, such as the day he said, jokingly, that “God is Brazilian.”
Jorge Mario Bergoglio died in the early hours of Monday (21), victim of a stroke and heart failure. He was 88 years old and held the maximum position of the Catholic Church for 12 years.
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Visit as Cardinal
Six years before being elected Pope in May 2007, Bergoglio was in the city of Aparecida, São Paulo, for the 5th General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopate. He was Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires at the time.
The meeting of the Latin American bishops, convened by Pope John Paul II, discussed different topics. Among them, the situation of the Amazon and the original and African American populations, as well as gender issues. Bergoglio was responsible for leading the writing of the final document.
World Youth Day
In 2013, as Pope, days before landing in Rio, Francisco was again in Aparecida, where he visited the Basilica. Then he went to Rio, where he visited the São Francisco de Assis Hospital, in the providence of God, in the North Zone.
He was also in the Varginha community, in the Manguinhos favela, where he highlighted the welcome of Brazilians.
“From the first moment I played the Brazilian lands and also here with you I feel welcomed. And it is important to know how to welcome; it is something more beautiful than any or ornament,” said the Pope.
JMJ had as its main stage the beach of Copacabana. Official data estimated a public of 3.7 million people During the shipping mass on the last day of the event, July 28.
Before returning to the Vatican, Francisco joked about the rivalries between Brazil and Argentina. He said that “as to rivalry, I believe it is already fully overcome. Because we negotiate well. The Pope is Argentine and God is Brazilian.”