PORTO — Le pape Benoît XVI a bouclé vendredi son pèlerinage au Portugal par une dernière grande messe à Porto.
De Catherine JOUAULT - AFP
Comme la veille à Fatima, Benoît XVI a été accueilli à Porto par l'explosion de joie de dizaines de milliers de personnes, dont l'exubérance contrastait avec la
réputation d'austérité de ce bastion catholique et conservateur du nord du pays.
Selon le porte-parole du Vatican, le père Federico Lombardi, de 120 à 150.000 fidèles étaient présents vendredi sur l'Avenida dos Aliados, d'une capacité de 200.000 personnes.
Lors de la messe, célébrée dans une atmosphère de profond recueillement et de grande solennité, le pape, en chasuble rouge, a insisté sur l'importance pour les catholiques "d'aller à la rencontre des autres pour partager leur foi, sous peine de mort de la présence de l'Eglise dans le monde".
AFP (extrait)
A helicopter carrying Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Porto, northern Portugal, May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI is welcomed by Porto's Bishop D. Manuel Clemente, left, as he arrives at Vila Nova de Gaia, prior to celebrate a mass in Porto, Portugal, Friday, May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI waves from the popemobile as he arrives to the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal, to conduct an outdoor mass May 14, 2010
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Faithfuls celebrate the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI at Avenida dos Aliados during a mass in Porto, Portugal, Friday, May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI is cheered by faithful as he arrives at Avenida dos Aliados to celebrate a mass in Porto, Portugal, Friday, May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI holds his staff as a priest takes a picture at the start of an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal, to conduct an outdoor mass May 14, 2010.
Pope Benedict XVI waves from the altar upon his arrival to celebrate mass in Porto
Pope Benedict XVI waves at the start of an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal, to conduct an outdoor mass May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI holds his staff at the start of an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal, to conduct an outdoor mass May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful as he arrives at Avenida dos Aliados to celebrate a mass in Porto, Portugal, Friday, May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful as he arrives at Avenida dos Aliados to celebrate a mass in Porto, Portugal, Friday, May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI spreads incense as he conducts an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI holds up the host while performing holy communion during an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates a mass in Porto, Friday, May 14, 2010,
Pope Benedict XVI gives a girl holy communion during an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI greets a group of scouts during an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI waves at the end of an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal, May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI waves at the end of an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal, May 14, 2010.
Pope Benedict XVI is presented with a guitar from a student at the end of an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI waves at the end of an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal May 14, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI waves at the end of an outdoor mass in the Avenida dos Aliados square in Porto, northern Portugal, May 14, 2010.