Pope Francis ended his visit to Brazil
Pope Francis said goodbye last Sunday to Brazil, after a farewell ceremony held at the international airport Antonio Carlos Jobim, in Rio de Janeiro, in which he said he felt nostalgic.
“Thank you for the welcome and the warmth of the friendship that you have shown me,” said Pope Francis before boarding the plane that took him back to Rome.
On Sunday, during his last mass at Copacabana beach, the Pontiff launched an offensive of evangelization in order to fill the churches. “Dear young people, when you return to your homes, do not be afraid of being generous with Christ, to bear witness of the Gospel”, said the Pope in his sermon on the last day.
This was Pope Francis first international trip since his election in March, the purpose of traveling to Brazil was to revitalize a significant loss of faithful Catholics due to secularism, competition from evangelical religions and disillusionment by sexual abuse, and the Vatican is pleased with the result.
“The event is sign of the vitality of a church that can appeal to many young people,” said the Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi, during an interview with several journalists.