Aparecida, Brazil, Jul 22, 2013 / 15:44 pm
The Brazilian military discovered an improvised bomb in a parking garage bathroom at the shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida July 22, which Pope Francis is due to visit on Wednesday, July 24.
"It was a homemade device with little potential to cause fatalities," according to a statement from the Brazilian Air Force. "It is worth pointing out that such episodes formed part of our security forces' training in Aparecida and at no point were civilians' lives in danger."
The bomb has already been destroyed. It was discovered around 11:30 am in Rio, during the completion of simulated exercises by security forces, according to Brazil's Grupo Estado.
Pope Francis landed in Rio de Janeiro this afternoon and was driven through the city in a car with its windows down, as tens of thousands of faithful swarmed around the Roman Pontiff.