Experiencing the pope in Rio - via television

Watching the televised events of World Youth Day 2013 in Rio — and in essence Pope Francis’ first trip back to his home continent as pontiff — was a bit like watching a good edition of the Olympics. 

There were thrilling moments, weather problems, logistical challenges, tons of emotions on display and lots of surprises at every turn, beginning with the pope’s arrival in Brazil and that accidental slip into a traffic jam with a hair-raising rush of well-wishers suddenly surrounding the papal car in downtown Rio.

Thankfully, all ended well and we never saw anything quite that disorganized during the rest of the pope’s visit.

In fact, the word “surprise” had been used by pundits quite a bit in advance of this Brazil edition of World Youth Day, and Pope Francis — already keeping the world on its toes for his boundless interactions with Vatican audiences — did not disappoint.

The pope seemed determined to move about Rio as freely as would be expected of a much lesser dignitary: making his way through a slum, a hospital for drug rehabilitation patients, among politicians, city and Church leaders and certainly around the throngs at WYD events.

Along the papal route, Brazilians rushed forward to hand over babies for the pope to kiss — and in one random instance even a cup of South American mate which Pope Francis appeared to take and sip. (See a video clip here)

The new pope’s considerable people skills, his smile, focus, attention, energy and spontaneity in Rio have earned him comparisons to Blessed John Paul II, especially in the many televised smaller situations and gatherings in Brazil.

On the larger stages and during the principal WYD Rio events, that comparison to the Polish pope ends, as Pope Francis appeared not to openly make too much of the extremely large audiences on Copacabana Beach, nor to “whoop it up” by directly engaging the throngs with a little triumphant gesture here or there. Possibly deliberately, he did not try to convey the legendary big-stage presence associated with John Paul II.

The new pope leaned toward the sober, low-key style we saw at St. Peter’s Square immediately following his election this year — although day after day while in Brazil Pope Francis certainly beamed with joy associated with WYD events and papal travels. It was easy to see by television that he enjoyed himself.

As for the Brazilians and their WYD 2013 organizing efforts and overall production: Nowhere did the Olympics comparison come to mind so often as when watching the mostly nighttime, stage-lit WYD programming which set a new high mark for creativity and beauty.

Once the rainy days had passed — and certainly by the Friday Stations of the Cross production on multiple stages — it was clear the Brazilians had raised the bar and offered a top-notch outdoor production of religious music, theater, and audio-visual programming seamlessly presented and in good taste — not an easy task for a papal visit marred by wet, chilly weather and a dramatic change of venue for the closing weekend programs.

And who knew Latin America had so many singing priests? Watching a little post-event concert at Copacabana Beach following the closing Sunday Mass, online viewers were treated to a string of clergy with real musical talent and contemporary style.

Overall, it seemed like just one thing after another as choirs, soloists, actors and presenters weaved a Latin conga line around what will surely be a long-remembered papal visit.

Tom Tracy has covered four World Youth Days since Denver in 1993, including Madrid in 2011. He is a freelance writer and photographer based in Palm Beach.