Sunbathers join nuns on Rio's Copacabana beach as one million Catholics gather for evening service with the Pope

Sunbathers and nuns sat side-by-side today on Rio de Janeiro's iconic Copacabana beach, as more than a million people gather for an evening vigil Mass that will be said by Pope Francis.
The Argentinian Pontiff- who is due to return to Rome tomorrow- will arrive at the beach tonight to celebrate World Youth Day. Pilgrims and locals have set up tents and sleeping bags by the sea, to witness the historic service.
After receiving a shirt from one of Rio’s beloved football teams from the legendary Zico and visiting one of the city’s most violent slums, Pope Francis today immersed himself further in Brazilian culture as he modelled a local tribesman’s feather headdress.

Dramatic: Rio de Janeiro's most famous sandy stretch- Copacabana beach, has been taken over by worshipers who are camping out to see Pope Francis tonight

Crowds: One million people will attend the vigil service in celebration of World Youth Day. The Argentinian Pope's visit to Brazil is his first overseas trip

Stunning: The number of people descending on the busy beach can be appreciated from a distance. The event is the climax of the popular Pope's first visit to Brazil

Devout: Pilgrims and locals have flocked to the scene of the Mass, where the Pope will appear before he returns to Rome tomorrow

Side by side: Two Polish nuns look out to sea beside two sunbathers in bikinis. The gathering of nuns the famous beach has created some unusual sights

Halo: Pope Francis appeared to be holier than usual when his head was surrounded by a light that formed a crescent-shaped halo as he preached to bishops, priests and seminarians at the Cathedral of St. Sebastian

The Pontiff, 76, was met by Brazilian Indians at the capital’s grand municipal theatre, where he spoke with the country’s political and economic elite.

When groups lined up to kiss the Pontiff’s ring, a man from the Pataxo tribe offered Pope Francis an alternative to his traditional ceremonial headdress.

The Pope wore the flamboyant headdress, which is designed in a fan-shape as he spoke with the tribe.

Now on his sixth day of his first overseas trip, the leader of one of the world’s biggest churches continued to preach about the need for a better dialogue after weeks of violent protests in Brazil.


During his speech at the Municipal theatre- where he was met with a standing ovation- he said better dialogue was needed between religions.

He said: ‘Between selfish indifference and violent protest there is always another possible option: that of dialogue.

'A country grows when constructive dialogue occurs between its many rich cultural components: popular culture, university culture, youth culture, artistic and technological culture, economic culture, family culture and media culture.'

Commentators have said the Pope's visit to Brazil has been a unifying success.

When he arrived at the theatre to deliver his remarks, he was welcomed with a standing ovation and shouts of 'Long live the pope!'

Juxtaposition: Scantily-clad sunbathers and nuns are side by side as the city prepares for the climax of the Pope's visit

Biblical: Swimmers emerge from the sea as monks look on in anticipation of the vigil mass. During his visit, the Pope has been to one of the city's most dangerous slums

Spectacular: From its blue skies to its blue seas, Rio provides a dramatic backdrop for the nighttime service

Resting: Dozens of Catholics get some shut eye as they wait for the Pope's appearance

Hand in hand: The Catholic faithful walk makes its way across the sand on world Youth Day. Many of the 1million expected to turn up to the vigil will be children and young people

The Masses: The Catholics gathered on Copacabana beach make for a colourful sight

International event: Flags from the UK and Brazil illustrate the world-wide appeal of Pope Francis

Earlier in the day, he delivered a Mass with 1,000 bishops in Rio's beehive-like modern cathedral.

Pope Francis echoed the message he has delivered to pilgrims at World Youth Day all week- a radical call to renew the dusty church, which has seen its numbers dwindle in Europe thanks to general apathy.

'We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities when so many people are waiting for the Gospel!

'It's not enough simply to open the door in welcome, but we must go out through that door to seek and meet the people.'

The slum pope'- who is respected for his work with the poor, received a rapturous welcome in the Varginha shantytown on Thursday, part of a slum area of northern Rio so violent it's known as the Gaza Strip.

The 76-year-old seemed entirely at home, wading into cheering crowds, kissing people young and old and telling them the Catholic Church is on their side.

The Varginha visit was one of the highlights of Francis' weeklong trip to Brazil, his first as pope.

Strong message: The Pope told the thousands of youngsters to get out into the streets and spread their faith, saying a church that doesn't go out and preach simply becomes a civic or humanitarian group

Man of the people: The slum pope'- who is respected for his work with the poor, received a rapturous welcome in the Varginha shantytown on Thursday, part of a slum area of northern Rio so violent it's known as the Gaza Strip

Trying on a new look: The Argentinian Pope modelled a local tribesman's feather headdress earlier today

Preaching: Pope Francis waves to people from his popemobile as he visits the Varginha slum. The 76-year-old has been greeted by standing ovations and shouts of 'Long live the Pope' during his visit

The surprise, though, came during his encounter with Argentine pilgrims, scheduled at the last minute in yet another sign of how this spontaneous pope is shaking up the Vatican's staid and often stuffy protocol.

He told the thousands of youngsters, with an estimated 30,000 Argentines registered, to get out into the streets and spread their faith, saying a church that doesn't go out and preach simply becomes a civic or humanitarian group.

'I want to tell you something. What is it that I expect as a consequence of World Youth Day? I want a mess. We knew that in Rio there would be great disorder, but I want trouble in the dioceses!' he said, speaking off the cuff in his native Spanish.

'I want to see the church get closer to the people. I want to get rid of clericalism, the mundane, this closing ourselves off within ourselves, in our parishes, schools or structures. Because these need to get out!'