Pope's Visit to Brazil - Day 2

On Thursday 10 May 2007, during the second day of his visit to Brazil, Pope Benedict XVI visited President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, met church and religious leaders, catholic bishops and in the evening spoke to the youth in the Pacaembu stadium.CZECH

Sao Paulo (BR): After a private mass in the chapel of the monastery, Benedict XVI travelled by car to the Bandeirantes Palace, residence of the Sao Paulo governor, where he was received by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at 11.00 am (4.00 pm EET). At the meeting, attended by First Lady Marisa Leticia Lula da Silva as well, the Pope and the President discussed youths, the family and social concerns.

The pope expressed his hope that a concordat would be signed during his pontificate and the president's term in office. However, da Silva reiterated his commitment to a lay state. In his speech, da Silva mentioned his concerns about the problems of youths and young adults; more than 60 % of the Brazilian population is under age 29. They both agreed that moral formation for young people must be a priority, and the president called for greater collaboration between church and state in that area, as he did also on the previous day when welcoming the Pope.

Other challenges where the Church and the State must cooperate are, according to da Silva, social and human development, malnutrition, especially in rural parts of the country, promotion of rights for peasant farmers, and greater justice in trade.

The Brazilian president's official gift to the pontiff was a 13-volume set of books containing the complete works of Brazilian painter Candido Portinari. The first lady presented the Pope with a portrait by Brazilian artist Roberto Camasmie. Seaking to other authorities, Pope Benedict gave a rosary to governor's 4-year-old grandson and blessed him.

Having arrived to the monastery, the Pope met with representatives from other Christian confessions and other religions present in Brazil. At 1.15 pm he then had a lunch with Archbishop Geraldo Lyrio Rocha of Mariana, Archbishop Luiz Soares Vieira of Manaus, and Bishop Dimas Lara Barbosa, auxiliary of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, respectively president, vice-president and secretary general of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil.

In the afternoon, the Pope left by popemobile to the Paulo Machado de Carvalho Stadium in the Pacaembu neighbourhood, where he was awaited by tens of thousands of young people at 6.00 pm (11.00 pm EET). Based on the gospel passage of the rich young man who asks Jesus how he can inherit eternal life (Mt 19:16-22), the Pope said: 'The question in the Gospel does not regard only the future… it exists as a task in the present, in the 'here and now'… The young man's question raises the issue of life's meaning.' He then added that it's Jesus who gives the answer, the meaning of this present life and its fullness. He also called on the young to serve in mission and evangelization: 'Be apostles of youth!'

Benedict XVI also spoke with the young people on vocation – to marriage as well as to consecrated life. 'Conjugal life… will bring happiness and peace only to the extent that you are able to build your future hopes upon chastity, both within and outside marriage,' he told them. Finally he addressed all the gathered: 'My dear young people, Christ is calling you to be saints. He himself is inviting you and wants to walk with you, in order to enliven with his Spirit the steps that Brazil is taking at the beginning of this third millennium of the Christian era.'

After the meeting with the young, the Pope returned to the monastery at about 8 pm.

Today, on Friday 11 May 2007, Benedict XVI will celebrate the mass at 9.30 am (2.30 pm EET) and canonize the 1st Brazilian saint, Fra Antonio de Sant'Ana Galvao de Franca. He will then meet bishops and other clerics in the cathedral, at 6.00 he will leave Sao Paulo and travel to Aparecida, where he will open the 5th General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sunday.