ROP welcome card?

Rio de Janeiro (CNN) – A small explosive device was found Sunday near a religious sanctuary that Pope Francis is to visit in Brazil on Wednesday, the state of Sao Paulo military police confirm to CNN.

The disclosure came soon after the Francis, making his first visit outside Rome since his March election, delivered remarks to Brazilian dignitaries.

As the pope was driven from the airport to downtown Rio, crowds mobbed his small, silver car, reaching out to touch the first Latin American’s pontiff. Later, they lined packed streets as the “pope mobile” wound through this city’s downtown.

Pope Francis has already proven himself a remarkably unpretentious public figure, famously renouncing, for instance, his luxurious apartment and chauffeur-driven limousine.

That self-effacing persona was on display again Monday upon his arrival in Rio de Janeiro, where Francis said he wanted to “knock gently” on Brazil’s door during his first overseas journey, making sure it was OK to proceed.

“I ask permission to come in and spend this week with you,” the pope said to his somewhat startled hosts.

Those looking forward to the papal sojourn include hundreds of thousands of pumped-up young Catholic pilgrims, here to take part in the church’s youth festival; a Brazilian government eager for a good news cycle after a summer of discontent; agitated Brazilian protesters, hoping for a papal blessing for their demands; even hordes of journalists with deadlines to meet.

After touching down, Francis also offered an echo of his identity as the “pope of the poor.”

“I have neither silver nor gold,” he said, “but I bring with me the most precious thing given to me: Jesus Christ!