Pope travels to first public Mass in Brazil


July 24, 2013 at 10:18a.m.

Pope travels to first public Mass in Brazil

APARECIDA, Brazil (AP) - A crowd roared and church bells rang as Pope Francis’ helicopter arrived today in Aparecida for the first full day of activities on his inaugural international trip as pontiff. Tens of thousands of faithful flocked to the tiny town of Aparecida, tucked into an agricultural region halfway between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, where he is to celebrate the first public Mass of his trip in a massive basilica dedicated to the nation’s patron saint.