Brazil crowds greet Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro

Pope Francis has been greeted by tens of thousands of Brazilian pilgrims as he began his first trip abroad since becoming head of the Catholic Church.

The first Latin American Pope toured Rio de Janeiro in an open car and then met President Dilma Rousseff at the state governor's palace.

After he left, police fired tear gas to disperse protests against both the government and the cost of the visit.

He is in Brazil to attend the Roman Catholic World Youth Day festival.

In a speech soon after his arrival, the Pope urged young Catholics to "make disciples of all nations".

"I came to meet young people coming from all over the world, drawn to the open arms of Christ the Redeemer," he said at the governor's palace, referring to Rio's famous vast statue of Jesus.

"They want to find a refuge in his embrace, right near his heart to hear his call clearly and powerfully."

About an hour after the welcoming ceremony, police fired stun grenades and tear gas against the demonstrators outside the palace.

It was the latest rally against what the protesters described as endemic government corruption across the country.

But some were also unhappy about $53m (£34m, NGN8.533bn) in public fund being spent for the pontiff's visit

Pope's visit to Brazil - main events

Monday:

• Arrival and welcoming ceremony at Rio state governor's palace

Tuesday

• No scheduled public events

Wednesday:

• Visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Conception of Aparecida and to the St Francis of Assisi of the Providence of God Hospital in Rio

Thursday:

• Visit to the Varginha community in Rio, welcoming ceremony at the World Youth Day on Copacabana

Friday:

• Meeting with young prisoners and a Way of the Cross ceremony on Copacabana

Saturday:

• Meeting with Brazil's leaders in Rio and a prayer vigil with young people

Sunday:

• Holy Mass for the World Youth Day in Rio, farewell ceremony and departure for Rome