Americas News
Pope leaves Brazil after "intense and unforgettable" visit (Extra)
By DPA
May 14, 2007, 0:19 GMT

Sao Paulo - Pope Benedict XVI left Brazil late Sunday after a five-day pastoral visit that he described as 'intense and unforgettable.'

'The expressions of enthusiasm and profound piety of this generous people will remain in my memory forever,' the pontiff said at the end of his first trip to the Americas as pope.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - who welcomed Benedict on arrival Wednesday in the world's most populous Catholic country - did not attend the farewell. Lula was represented by Vice President Jose Alencar.

Alencar said that Brazilians greeted the pope's visit with 'honour and joy.'

Also present at the Guarulhos airport in Sao Paulo were Sao Paulo state Governor Jose Serra and the city's mayor Gilberto Kassab.

Benedict's Alitalia jet left Brazil at 2355 GMT and is expected to land at 1045 GMT Monday at Rome's Ciampino airport.