There will be no
masks at Mass this year in Rio de Janeiro when Pope Francis pays a visit
for World Youth Day. Protesters are reportedly planning a
demonstration during the pope’s upcoming visit to the city for the
event — which actually lasts through the week. Demonstrators took to the streets earlier this week burning trash
and looting stores, demanding the impeachment of the state governor who
has been a target of rallies since June. And authorities are especially worried of a potential repeat of June’s
football Confederations Cup, when hundreds of thousands of protesters
wore Guy Fawkes masks and demanded better public services. Citizens also expressed anger over the rising
cost to stage the World Cup in 2014. The country reportedly spends
billions of dollars on tournaments while its citizens bear the brunt of
insufficient hospitals and underfed schools. The
“Anonymous” masks have become a global symbol of protests. Carnival mask
makers in the area have reportedly been scrambling to meet the demands
for the masks since the anti-government demonstrations began. More than one million people are
expected at Tuesday's Mass, which will be policed by 7,000 troops. And,
yes, attendees apparently planned to wear masks.
International Business Times reports “ ... enterprising businesses
in Rio have already manufactured masks bearing the image of the 266 th
pope, in the hopes that these souvenirs will be gobbled up by the two
million people expected to come from all over the world to attend the
holy event.” The BBC reports nearly 35,000 security
officials are expected to help keep any mask wearers out of the event,
but the head of the security force said there will be no attempt to
stifle protests so long as they are peaceful.
