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Story highlights
- Rain, mud deluge Brazilian suburb of Guaratiba
- Officials move events related to papal weekend visit
- The change will mean major economic losses in community
A Christian Carnival. That's how some in Rio have described the mood in the streets of Copacabana Beach, where hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims follow every step of visiting Pope Francis, an outspoken champion of the poor.
But not everyone is celebrating in Rio.
About 50 kilometers away, in the working-class suburb of Guaratiba, a last-minute change in the pope's schedule due to heavy rainfall had devastating consequences on the lives of local merchants, many whom invested their life savings on preparing for his arrival. They were expecting hundreds of thousands to flock to their community over the weekend.
Saturday's events and Sunday's closing Mass were supposed to take place in Guaratiba -- but were moved to Rio's Copacabana Beach.
Marcelo Rosa and his friends jumped up when they heard the news, announced earlier this year by Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, that the pope would come to Guaratiba this weekend.
Rosa got together with his friends and borrowed about $50,000 in U.S. dollars to buy drinks and food to feed the pilgrims. One friend sold his car, another borrowed from the bank. When news came of the event changes, it was devastating to many.
Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis gives a chalice to Rio de Janeiro's Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta during a Mass on Copacabana Beach on Sunday, July 28. The pontiff has been in the South American country for World Youth Day, a weeklong celebration aimed at revitalizing young Catholics.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – A bird's-eye view of the pope's stage is seen leading to a sea of priests dressed in white and then to the millions of faithful that turned out on Copacabana beach to witness the Mass.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Priests line the front ranks of those in attendance to see the pope's final Mass while in Brazil on July 28.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis waves to the crowds on his way to Copacabana Beach on July 28.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Faithful as far as the eye can see crowd Copacabana Beach on July 28, during Pope Francis' final Mass of his visit to Brazil. The stage from where the pope was speaking is seen on the lower left.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis heads a prayer vigil with a reported 3 million Catholic pilgrims in attendance at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, July 27.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil – The enormous crowd packs Copacabana Beach for the vigil on July 27.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis address the crowd from a brightly lit stage.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil – The pope's image is broadcast on screens throughout the crowd.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pilgrims watch a live image of Pope Francis broadcast on one of the video screens during the vigil on July 27.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis waves from the "Popemobile" as it threads its way through the crowd waiting for the vigil to begin on July 27.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis wears an indigenous feathered hat given to him by representatives of one of Brazil's native tribes during a meeting at the Municipal Theater in Rio de Janeiro on July 27.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Hundreds of thousands of bathers, pilgrims and residents fill the beach at Copacabana Beach in Rio, where Pope Francis was to hold a prayer vigil on July 27.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Two Polish nuns laugh as they enjoy the surf along with the massive crowd gathering on Copacabana Beach on July 27.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis waves to people from the "Popemobile" in Rio de Janeiro on July 27.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis listens to a young woman confess at the Quinta da Boa Vista in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday, July 26.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis has lunch with a group of young faithful at the Archbishop's Palace St. Joaquim in Rio de Janeiro, on July 26. The pope issued the first social manifesto of his young pontificate Thursday, telling slum-dwellers in Brazil that the world's rich must do much more to wipe out vast inequalities between the haves and the have-nots.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – The pope blesses a child as he arrives at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, on July 26.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis waves to the faithful from the balcony of St. Joaquim in Rio de Janeiro on July 26.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis kisses a child in San Joaquin Square in Rio de Janeiro on July 26.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Catholic youths await the arrival of Pope Francis on Copacabana beach in Rio on July 26.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis speaks to the crowd from a balcony of the San Joaquin Episcopal Palace on July 26 in Rio. More than 1.5 million pilgrims are expected to join the pope for his visit to the Catholic Church's World Youth Day celebrations.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Nuns cheer and take photographs from the central balcony of the Archbishop's Palace in Rio as Pope Francis arrives for the Angelus Prayer on July 26.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, July 25.
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Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis arrives at Copacabana on July 25.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – People watch the pope's beachfront service on a video screen on July 25.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Thousands of young people gather at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Copacabana beach on July 25 to welcome the pope.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis holds Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida in Aparecida, Brazil, on Wednesday, July 24.
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Pope Francis visits Brazil – Members of the clergy listen to Pope Francis, center right, as he gives Mass inside the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida on July 24.
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Pope Francis visits Brazil – A boy waves a flag along with the other faithful to see the pope in Aparecida on July 24.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis waves to pilgrims as he arrives at the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida on July 24.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis celebrates Mass at a chapel inside the Sumare residence, where he is staying in Rio de Janeiro, on Tuesday, July 23. Pope Francis took a break from his schedule in Brazil on Tuesday as authorities assessed security lapses during a raucous welcome ceremony by tens of thousands of adoring pilgrims.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis talks with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff during a welcoming ceremony at the Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, July 22. The pope began his first apostolic visit Monday in Brazil, home to the world's largest Catholic population.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis takes the stage with President Dilma Rousseff at the Guanabara Palace on July 22.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis waves to the crowd at the Guanabara Palace on July 22.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis and his security escorts depart the Metropolitan Cathedral in Rio on July 22.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – People wait outside the Metropolitan Cathedral for the pope's arrival on July 22.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – A member of the security detail holds up a baby for Pope Francis to kiss on July 22.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – A crowd surrounds the Popemobile on July 22 as Pope Francis departs the Metropolitan Cathedral.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis waves to supporters in Rio on July 22.
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Photos: Photos: Pope Francis visits Brazil
Pope Francis visits Brazil – President Dilma Rousseff accompanies Pope Francis after his arrival at the international airport in Rio de Janeiro on July 22.
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Pope Francis visits Brazil – People cheer and sing songs as Pope Francis deplanes in Rio on July 22.
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Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis' car is surrounded by well-wishers after the driver took a wrong turn along the route from the Rio de Janeiro airport to the Metropolitan Cathedral on July 22 in this still image taken from video.
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Pope Francis visits Brazil – Pope Francis arrives at the Rio airport on July 22.
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Pope Francis wades into Rio favelas 02:10
Pope arrives at Copacabana Beach 01:37
"When they told me it was canceled, I said you're joking, you've got to be joking," Rosa said tearfully. I fainted on the spot."
Celia Dias Carneiro, owner of the Maroeste restaurant, had gone to Guaratiba's main square and heeded the call to action: local merchants rushed to stock up on foods and beverages.
"Since the expectations were so high, that tens of thousands were coming, I got scared," said Carneiro, who borrowed about $4,000 at a 7% rate to buy extra seafood.
"I was hoping to get my feet out of the mud ... and now look what has happened to me. I am stuck again in the mud again," she said.
Local organizers heard talks of money-making opportunities and prepared for the big day. An opulent stage was built over a huge field that was formerly part of a protected marshland.
After this week's heavy rains, the field became impassable, even by the trucks delivering goods.
The area has been cordoned off, but the scene of devastation was very visible, attracting angry passers-by shouting in protest and disbelief.
According to a Globo news report, the organization responsible for Campus Fidei tried to drain the water, unsuccessfully.
Local newspapers, including Portal Guaratiba, said while federal and municipal taxes were used to build Campus Fidei, they were left with the ecological and sanitary repercussion of building a field over marshland and the loss of mangroves.
According to a municipal study, this area was part of three marsh systems essential to local fishermen who rely on the local flora and fauna.
Paes is expected to address issues related to the cancellation at Guaratiba.
In the meantime, Guaratiba residents want their voices to be heard. Local merchants said all they asked for was to be able to sell their merchandise in Copacabana to make up for losses. Others, just wanted to see Pope Francis.
"This left us with such an emptiness, such sadness," said Gabriel Giovannotti, a local business owner.
"If he could only drive by and give us a blessing... we would be happier," he said.
