Pope Francis is in Brazil for World Youth Day and visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, patron of Brazil, for the first public Mass celebrated by the Pope on the American continent. Aparecida is the place in Brazil where, in 1717, it is said that three fisherman, after a day of fruitless fishing, hauled in an entire net-ful of fish after first pulling in a statue of Mary's body and then the statue's head. A shrine followed as word spread about the statue and the graces received by those who prayed before it.
In his homily, the Pope said, "Today, looking forward to the World Youth Day which has brought me to Brazil, I too come to knock on the door of the house of Mary--who loved and raised Jesus--that she may help all of us, pastors of God's people, parents, and educators, to pass on to our young people the values that can help them build a nation and a world which are more just, united, and fraternal."
This should be the goal of us all, regardless of our religion.