Jul 26, 2013

Pope Francis made the first overseas trip of his papacy this week, heading to Brazil mainly to preside over the five-day celebration of World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. While visiting a country rocked by protests that began last month, the first Latin American pontiff chastised the Brazilian government for not doing enough to help poor residents.

: Pope Francis waves at the crowd from a balcony of the San Joaquin Episcopal Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after delivering the Angelus prayer on July 26, 2013. Pope Francis met young convicts here and will later return to Copacabana beach Friday where 1.5 million Catholics gathered on Rio de Janeiro’s seafront to see him speak the previous night in a massive ceremony for World Youth Day festivities. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images)

: A faithful awaiting Pope Francis looks at his phone at the Quinta Boa Vista park where the Pope heard the confessions of youths attending the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, July 26, 2013. Pope Francis on Thursday issued the first social manifesto of his young pontificate, telling slum dwellers in Brazil that the world’s rich must do much more to wipe out vast inequalities between the haves and the have-nots. (Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)

: Pope Francis addresses the young people at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the World Youth Day on July 25, 2013. The first Latin American and Jesuit pontiff arrived in Brazil mainly for the huge five-day Catholic gathering World Youth Day. On the fourth day of his visit to Brazil and borne along by adoring crowds, Pope Francis waded into the country’s ramshackle slums and onto the front line of its fierce national battle over poverty and corruption, before going to the much wealthier district of Copacabana. (Stefano Rellandini/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis delivers a speech during a visit to the Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, on July 25, 2013. Pope Francis urged young Brazilians not to despair in the battle against corruption Thursday as he addressed their country’s political problems in the wake of massive protests. The first Latin American and Jesuit pontiff arrived in Brazil mainly for the huge five-day Catholic gathering World Youth Day. (Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)

: A man dressed as Jesus Christ is seen among the crowd gathering outside the San Joaquin Episcopal Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before Pope Francis delivered the Angelus prayer on July 26, 2013. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis blesses the crowd from a balcony of the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, after celebrating Mass at Brazil’s most revered Catholic shrine, in Aparecida, Sao Paulo State, on July 24, 2013. The first Latin American and Jesuit pontiff visited Aparecida to lead his first big Mass since arriving in the country for a week-long visit of which highlight is the huge five-day Catholic gathering World Youth Day. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)

: Franciscan friars read at the San Joaquin Episcopal Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before the arrival of Pope Francis, on July 26, 2013. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images)

: Nuns from the Nossa Senhora dos Anjos monastery wait in line in the rain to attend Pope Francis’ visit to the Hospital de Sao Francisco de Assis (Hospital of Saint Francis of Assisi) on July 24, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The nuns rarely leave the monastery. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis takes communion as he officiates Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil’s most revered Catholic shrine, in Aparecida, Sao Paulo State, on July 24, 2013. (Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis kisses a boy as he arrives to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil’s most revered Catholic shrine, in Aparecida, Sao Paulo State, on July 24, 2013. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)

: People gather at Copacabana beach to hear Pope Francis celebrate mass on July 25, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More than 1.5 million pilgrims are expected to join the Pope for his visit to the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day celebrations. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

: A faithful holds a flag with an image of Pope Francis as the pontiff speaks from a stage mounted on a football field at the Varginha favela in Rio de Janeiro, on July 25, 2013. The Varginha favela is a community of 1,000 people which for decades was under the sway of narco-traffickers until it came under police control less than a year ago. (Tasso Marcelo/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis (center) hugs a drug addict during his visit to the St. Francis Hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 24, 2013. Pope Francis warned Catholics on Wednesday against “ephemeral idols” like money at his first public Mass in Latin America as huge crowds lined the streets to cheer him. (Observatore Romano/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis is surrounded by children as he strolls around during his visit to the Varginha favela in Rio de Janeiro, on July 25, 2013. The Varginha favela is a community of 1,000 people which for decades was under the sway of narco-traffickers until it came under police control less than a year ago. (Yasuyoshi Chibaya/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis kisses a baby during his visit to the Varginha favela in Rio de Janeiro, on July 25, 2013. The Varginha favela is a community of 1,000 people which for decades was under the sway of narco-traffickers until it came under police control less than a year ago. (Luca Zennaro/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

: Religious people and faithfuls wear nylon raincoats as Pope Francis speaks during the welcoming ceremony offered to him by the youth for the World Youth Day ceremonies, at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Copacabana beachfront on July 25, 2013. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis arrives on the popemobile at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Copacabana beachfront on July 25, 2013 for his welcome to World Youth Day ceremonies. (Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)

: The wind blows Pope Francis’s mantle as he speaks at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the World Youth Day on July 25, 2013. (Luca Zennaro/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis delivers the Angelus prayer from a balcony of the San Joaquin Episcopal Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 26, 2013. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis poses for a picture with military policemen outside the Metropolitan cathedral in Rio de Janeiro on July 25, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

Pope scolds rich, demands social justice in visit to Brazil slum
Philip Pullella and Anthony Boadle Reuters
6:51 a.m. EDT, July 26, 2013

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Thursday issued the first social manifesto of his young pontificate, telling slum dwellers in Brazil that the world’s rich must do much more to wipe out vast inequalities between the haves and the have-nots.

The pope also urged Brazil’s youth, who have taken part in recent protests showing discontent with the status quo, to keep alive their “sensitivity towards injustice” and be a catalyst in the fight against corruption.

The first Latin American pope, who has rallied the Church on behalf of the poor and who lives more austerely than his predecessors, called for a “culture of solidarity” to replace the “selfishness and individualism” prevailing in modern society.

“No one can remain insensitive to the inequalities that persist in the world,” he told residents of Manguinhos, a sprawling shantytown, or favela, of ramshackle brick dwellings that until recently was overrun by violence and controlled by drug lords.

Pope Francis visits Brazil in first overseas trip since election

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