3,200 Journalists Covering the Event
SÃO PAULO, Brazil, MAY 9, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Worldwide media interest in Benedict XVI's visit to Brazil has surpassed the expectations of the organizers of the trip.
Early estimates predicted the presence of 2,000 journalists, but according to Brazil's Foreign Ministry, the office responsible for press accreditation, 3,200 journalists are registered to cover the event.
Silvonei José Protz, director of Vatican Radio's Portuguese edition, told ZENIT: "It's Benedict XVI's first visit to Latin America, home to half the world's Catholics. The great interest of the world's media is therefore recognition of the importance of Latin America.
"There is also the fact that the Pope is going to Brazil, the largest Catholic country in the world, and the fact that the Pope is coming to speak to all of Latin America at the 5th Conference of the Latin American Bishops, which is extremely important."
Protz added that the issues facing Latin America reflect those of the Church worldwide, such as "poverty, new movements, sects, the defense of life, the family and youth."
He said, "Everything the Pope will say will not only be useful for us, but for the whole Church."
Code: ZE07050902
Date: 2007-05-09