Brazil’s senate leads prayers

ACROSS Latin America, home to almost half the world’s Roman Catholics, people wept and prayed for an end to the suffering of the Pope as his health deteriorated last night.

Brazilians prayed at special masses and the Lord’s Prayer was recited in the senate as Pope John Paul II appeared on the brink of death.

“I came especially to pray for him,” said 60-year-old Damiana Cunha, at a mass in Sao Paulo’s cathedral.