APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO RIO DE JANEIRO
ON THE OCCASION OF THE XXVIII WORLD YOUTH DAY

IMPROMPTU ADDRESS BY POPE FRANCIS
FROM THE BALCONY OF THE BASILICA OF THE SHRINE
OF OUR LADY OF APARECIDA, AFTER MASS

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Brothers and Sisters ... Brothers and Sisters, I do not speak “Brazilian”. Forgive me if I speak in Spanish. Forgive me. Thank you very much. Thank you for being here. Thank you from my heart, with all my heart I ask the Virgin, Our Lady of Aparecida, to bless you, to bless your families, to bless your children, to bless your parents, to bless the whole country.

Well now, I’ll soon find out whether you understand me. I’m going to ask you a question: does a mother forget her children? [No...] She does not forget us, she loves us and takes care of us. Now we ask her for a blessing. May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, come down upon you and remain with you always.

I want to ask you a favour, a small favour: pray for me, pray for me, I need it. May God bless you. May Our Lady of Aparecida protect you. And goodbye until 2017, when I shall be back...