Pope Francis presided over the greeting ceremony of World Youth Day at Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach, before thousands of spectators braving very un-Rio-like cold and rainy weather.

The pope arrived by helicopter, and rode in one of his open air papal wagon along the four kilometer path to the beach, stopping to kiss babies, shake hands, and at one point take a sip from what looked like someone’s iced coffee.  At one point, the ceremonies included a procession of national flags, presaging the Summer Olympics to be held in Rio in 2016.

Earlier, Francis attacked inequality during a visit to the Varginha community in the Manguinhos Favela, once one of the most dangerous places in all of Rio, but relatively calm since nearly 2,000 police and troops went through in January in a “pacification” program.

Francis condemned capitalism’s “culture of selfishness” that is widening the gap between rich and poor. 

“No amount of peace-building will be able to last, nor will harmony and happiness be attained in a society that ignores, pushes to the margins or excludes a part of itself,” he said.

Meanwhile, the weather is rearranging the Pope’s schedule.  Francis was supposed to say mass in a field in the rural countryside on Sunday, but heavy rain turned that field into a swamp.  The location has been changed back to Copacabana Beach.