Rio World Youth Day: Pope re-enacts Way of the Cross

Rio World Youth Day: Pope re-enacts Way of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross march comes on the Pope's fifth day in Brazil for World Youth Day - a weeklong event for more than a million young Christians.

He spoke about the lack of faith in political institutions perceived as selfish and corrupt by young people.

A planned field vigil outside Rio was moved to the city because of rain.

Young Catholics played drums on Copacabana beach as they waited for the Pope. People from all over the world travelled to Brazil for the pontiff's visit.

"Jesus is united with so many young people who have lost faith in political institutions, because they see in them only selfishness and corruption,'' Pope Francis said.

Protests, sometimes violent, broke out in cities across Brazil last month against corruption, poor public services and the high cost of events like the 2014 World Cup.

The 76-year-old Pope also expressed understanding for Christians who had lost faith in the church because of what he called the "incoherence of Christians and ministers of the gospel".

The Roman Catholic Church has been rocked by scandals over sexual abuse by priests.

One man from Argentina told the BBC he knew the Pope from his time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He said he was renowned for his strength and tenderness, but "now he's like a real father."

Message for youth

Earlier, Latin America's first pontiff met a group of prisoners in a palace of the Rio archdiocese.

He then emerged on a balcony to address the crowd, urging them to cherish the elderly on Grandparents' Day.

"How important grandparents are for family life, for passing on the human and religious heritage which is so essential for each and every society," he said.