One of the most tiresome lies about World Youth Day is that it represents a significant financial drain on its host country. Anti-catholic dilettante Amanda Marcotte summed up this line of attack well when she wrote: [Vatican officials] have to keep helping fund these $87-million (the estimated cost of the Pope’s event in Madrid) Pope excursions, you know.* She later retracted: This post origin... More

Today is Pope Benedict’s fifth and final day in Brazil, during which he will celebrate Mass at the famous shrine of Aparecida and inaugurate the fifth general conferences of Latin American and Caribbean bishops, before departing and flying back to the Vatican in the evening. Once again, this post will be updated and expanded throughout the day, so keep visiting. Thanks! NB: Complete roundup ... More

The best three pictures from Pope Benedict’s final day in Brazil: Pope Benedict XVI celebrates an open-air mass in the vast explanade of the Aparecida basilica, in Aparecida. Pope Benedict XVI waves goodbye at the air base in Sao Paulo, Sunday, May 13, 2007, after his first trip as pontiff to Latin America. General view of the open-air mass conducted by Pope Benedict XVI in the vast expl... More

Today, Pope Benedict continues his apostolic journey to Brazil for a fourth day, visiting a center for drug rehabilitation and then praying the rosary at the famous Shrine of Aparecida. Once again, this post will be updated and expanded throughout the day, so keep visiting! NB: Complete roundup of my coverage here, the best photos from the trip here. Highlights of Saturday’s papal itinerary ... More

The photographers for L’Osservatore Romano have special access to papal events, with obvious results: Pope Benedict XVI walks on the altar during his meeting with Brazilian Bishops at Se Cathedral in Sao Paulo, Friday, May 11 – AP Photo/L’Osservatore Romano. Pope Benedict XVI prays during his meeting with Brazilian Bishops at Se Cathedral in Sao Paulo, Friday, May 11 – A... More

Residents on a farm near Potim catch a glimpse of Pope Benedict XVI as his vehicle drives past after visiting the Fazenda Esperanca drug rehabilitation center, near the Aparecida sanctuary in Sao Paulo State, May 12, 2007. The Pope is visiting Brazil through Sunday. REUTERS/Caetano Barreira (BRAZIL) ...READ MORE... More

Today, Pope Benedict continues his apostolic journey to Brazil for a third day, celebrating the canonization Mass of Brazil’s first native-born saint (Bl. Fr. Antonio Galvao) and then spending the night near the famous Shrine of Aparecida. Once again, this post will be updated and expanded throughout the day, so keep visiting! NB: Complete roundup of my coverage here, the best photos from th... More

Photo highlights from the Pope’s Holy Mass and canonization of Bl. Antonio Galvao: AP Photo/Dado Galdieri AFP/Martin Bernetti AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia REUTERS/Tony Gentile (BRAZIL) (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker (BRAZIL) REUTERS/Tony Gentile (BRAZIL) Paulo Whitaker/Reuters REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL) REUTERS/Caetano Barreira (BRAZIL) REUTERS/Bruno Domingos (BR... More

*Day Three Coverage HERE* Pope Benedict continues his sixth apostolic journey for the second day today. This is his first papal trip outside of Europe (excluding Turkey), traveling in the most populous Catholic country in the world, Brazil. Please stay tuned for complete coverage. NB: Complete roundup of coverage here, top photos of the trip here. Thursday’s papal itinerary (all times EST)... More

Photos from the Pope’s meeting with youth this evening at Pacaembu soccer stadium in Sao Paulo: AP Photo/Victor Caivano REUTERS/Bruno Domingos (BRAZIL) REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL) REUTERS/Tony Gentile (BRAZIL) REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL) AP Photo/Victor CaivanoREUTERS/Caetano Barreira AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo REUTERS/Caetano Barreira (BRAZIL) ...READ M... More