In Brazil, Pope to Face A Church Losing Hold

The evangelical Christian churches, meanwhile, have appealed directly to the urban poor and have grown rapidly. Catholics have since taken some cues from the evangelicals, giving rise to the charismatic movement that is particularly popular in Brazil. Bishops who once denounced the idea of up-tempo Masses now support them, and traditionally conservative Catholic churches have altered their Masses to give them a more contemporary flavor. Some Catholic Masses are delivered in large, warehouse-style buildings filled to capacity with dancing crowds singing boisterous gospel music.

"For me, the more charismatic, the better," said Walter Duarte, 36, a carpenter who attended Mass last Sunday at one of the more traditional Catholic churches in Sao Paulo. "I myself am an example of someone who was drawn to the church by the charismatic movement. I was attracted by the music."

The nontraditional approach runs counter to the image most people have of Benedict, who is expected to issue a decree making it easier for churches to conduct traditional Latin Masses. But Zelinda Britto, 52, said she believes the pope will look kindly on Latin America's style of Catholicism when he visits and will recognize that it has helped the church retain young members.

"It's about joy," said Britto, before ducking into a church service. "The music gives me the sensation that God is closer. I believe God wants us to feel that sort of happiness and joy. God is meant to be worshiped -- He's not just about sin and guilt."

The Catholic Church's outlook in Brazil is not so gloomy either, according to some clergy.

"There are lots of movements that are always happening within the church here, and that is not a bad thing," said Dom Orani Joao Tempesta, archbishop of Belem, Brazil. "They are all trying to bring people to the faith, so they all have their value."

The recent survey that tracked the declining numbers of Catholics here also revealed some more-promising data for church leaders: 97 percent of Brazilians believe in God, 93 percent believe Christ rose from the dead, and 86 percent believe in the virgin birth. To Tempesta, that means the Catholic Church's 500-year presence in Latin America has laid a foundation that it is well-positioned to build upon.

"I hope the pope's visit enlightens people throughout Latin America about how . . . best to be a Catholic in a place that is living with the consequences of globalization and poverty," said Tempesta, who will attend the bishops conference this weekend. "And I hope we can show him that we still have hope, confidence and joy, too, despite whatever problems there might be."