Pope Celebrates Mass At Copacabana Beach By Greg Milam, US Correspondent Pope Francis has braved driving rain to preach to a crowd of up to one million people on Brazil's iconic Copacabana beach. The 76-year-old pontiff was given another rapturous reception as he drove through excited crowds packed along streets leading to the legendary sun-worshipping spot in Rio de Janeiro. It was the showpiece event of the Pope's first overseas trip. Once again, Francis showed himself to be a man willing to break with protocol, stopping the pope mobile to take a large plastic cup handed to him by a well-wisher. The pontiff in his open-sided pope mobile In his welcome to pilgrims who have travelled to Rio for World Youth Day, he again implored the faithful to do their bit in creating a more just world. His remarks were the centrepiece of a spectacular show on a stage built on the Copacabana's drenched and wind-swept white sands. His ease with ordinary people has already won Francis rave reviews on his return to his native Latin America. Earlier in the day he received the key to Rio, blessed the flag for the 2016 Olympics and toured one of the city's notorious "favela" slums. The Pope toured a slum in Rio de Janeiro There he appeared to criticise the Brazilian Government and called on them to do more to help the poor. "I would like to make an appeal to those who have greater resources, to public authorities and to all people of good will who are working for social justice to never tire of working for a more just world," he said. No-one can remain insensitive to the inequalities that persist in the world. He also talked of people being "disappointed by corruption." Francis gave a speech at the favela Brazilians had been hopeful that the Pope would make reference to the social issues that have prompted widespread protests in the country. Throughout his life, the pontiff has marked himself out as a leader with a particular interest in the plight of the poor. His visit is aimed at reinvigorating members of the Catholic church in Latin America with polls indicating some have become disillusioned in recent years. Even terrible weather has not prevented huge crowds turning out to see the Pope but it has forced authorities to move one major planned event from a field which is now knee-deep in mud.