BRASILIA : Visit From Worried Pope
Pope John Paul II ventures forth on his last scheduled foreign trip of the year Saturday--a 10-day return visit to Brazil, the world’s largest Catholic country.
During a 1980 visit, the Pope focused on the biggest cities in this South American giant, now 150 million people strong. This time, except for a ceremonial stop in Brasilia, he will visit provincial capitals--nine of them.
One principal issue the Pope will broach in Brazil is his alarm at the growing global gap between rich North and poor South. He is also expected to urge greater international respect for the environment, to reassert traditional church teaching against artificial birth control and abortion, and to exhort Brazilian church leaders to vigorous defense against the inroads of Protestant congregations through a more effective practice of their faith.
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