One of the most loved public figures in the world, Pope Francis is in Rio de Janeiro, one of the friendliest and beautiful cities in the world on his first ever trip abroad since being elected.
With hundreds of journalists and half a million young pilgrims in town, you would have thought the authorities would have taken steps to make sure than matters are organised well. Such is the good nature …of the Pope and the joy of his faithful youth, neither deserve to be blighted by cock-up,
And yet even before the Pope had stepped onto Brazilian soil, the organisation has shown serious failings.
Despite its impressive array of computers, giant TV screens and hundreds of smiling volunteers, the media centre in Copacabana suffered technical problems that delayed the issuing of press passes to several journalists. Even when they had finally got their passes, it turned out that only a limited pool would get guaranteed transport to the papal events.
And transport has been and is a big problem in Rio. With a city overcrowded with subsidised cars, both bus and metro system are well past their sell-by date-old, rusty, and uncomfortable they are not worthy of a country with the economic potential and growth of Brazil. Yesterday one of the main metro lines collapsed, due to a signal failure, trapping pilgrims and provoking chaotic scenes below and above ground.
The Pope himself suffered a major security lapse within an hour of his arrival with his car being led by outriders into a traffic jam that had the pontiff hemmed in by lorries and police having to struggle to hold off crowds of people who quickly arrived on the scene. Thank God, there was noone there with a knife, a gun, or a bomb.
Later the Pope’s open decked car truck tour through the city centre came close to disaster due to the sheer volume of crowds and a lack of coordination between volunteers and military police. In Brazil there is no concept of policing by consent . On the contrary the police these days, whe not shooting up drug traffickers in the favelas, spend their time violently attacking those protesting against poor transport, rising prices, and political corruption.
Most Brazilians have more faith in Pope Francis than they do in their own political leaders. But the Pope is not in charge of organising next year’s World Cup, and the Olympics that will follow it. On the evidence of this week, it will be a miracle if future major events don’t turn into a public order disaster.
With hundreds of journalists and half a million young pilgrims in town, you would have thought the authorities would have taken steps to make sure than matters are organised well. Such is the good nature …of the Pope and the joy of his faithful youth, neither deserve to be blighted by cock-up,
And yet even before the Pope had stepped onto Brazilian soil, the organisation has shown serious failings.
Despite its impressive array of computers, giant TV screens and hundreds of smiling volunteers, the media centre in Copacabana suffered technical problems that delayed the issuing of press passes to several journalists. Even when they had finally got their passes, it turned out that only a limited pool would get guaranteed transport to the papal events.
And transport has been and is a big problem in Rio. With a city overcrowded with subsidised cars, both bus and metro system are well past their sell-by date-old, rusty, and uncomfortable they are not worthy of a country with the economic potential and growth of Brazil. Yesterday one of the main metro lines collapsed, due to a signal failure, trapping pilgrims and provoking chaotic scenes below and above ground.
The Pope himself suffered a major security lapse within an hour of his arrival with his car being led by outriders into a traffic jam that had the pontiff hemmed in by lorries and police having to struggle to hold off crowds of people who quickly arrived on the scene. Thank God, there was noone there with a knife, a gun, or a bomb.
Later the Pope’s open decked car truck tour through the city centre came close to disaster due to the sheer volume of crowds and a lack of coordination between volunteers and military police. In Brazil there is no concept of policing by consent . On the contrary the police these days, whe not shooting up drug traffickers in the favelas, spend their time violently attacking those protesting against poor transport, rising prices, and political corruption.
Most Brazilians have more faith in Pope Francis than they do in their own political leaders. But the Pope is not in charge of organising next year’s World Cup, and the Olympics that will follow it. On the evidence of this week, it will be a miracle if future major events don’t turn into a public order disaster.
