Protesters manage to damage the Pope tour

Despite massive assistance, acts presided by Pope Francis in Brazil during the World Youth Day (WYD) were affected by around 200 demonstrators calling for the resignation of the Governor of Rio de Janeiro, Sérgio Cabral, and staged struggles with the police that was protecting the Copacabana beach where the Via Crucis was taking place.

The demonstrators included chants against the use of public money for the visit of the head of the Vatican State in Brazil, which is constitutionally secular.

A million and a half of Catholics followed the Pope in Rio, but many left  the celebration of the day for fear of the protesters, reported the Globo network.

Also in São Paulo, a violent demonstration by about 300 people led to clashes with the police. A group of masked protesters shattered ten banking agencies in the emblematic Paulista avenue, Sao Paulo’s financial heart.

Pope Francis arrived six days ago to WYD and returns to Rome on Sunday. During his tour he contacted thousands of Latin American young people, including around 800 Ecuadorians.