Brazil‘s Catholic Church Finds New Devotees – and a New Path – in YouTube Livestreams
São Paulo, Brazil – As the sun begins to rise over brazil, a surprising number of Catholics are already wide awake, not preparing for their daily commute, but tuning into livestreamed prayers lead by a young friar named Gilson da Silva Pupo Azevedo. Known simply as Friar Gilson, the 38-year-old has become a phenomenon, averaging an astounding 2 million daily viewers for his 4:00 AM sermons on YouTube.
the trend, rapidly gaining traction across the world’s largest Catholic nation, highlights a fascinating shift in religious practise and a potential lifeline for a church facing declining numbers. for many, like Cláudia Rodrigues de Oliveira Barbosa, a 54-year-old psychologist, the early morning ritual offers a unique sense of peace. “Some people find it odd that I wake up so early to pray with him, but it’s a time when the house is quiet and you’re disconnected from the world,” she explains.
But Friar Gilson is not alone. he is at the forefront of a growing number of religious leaders embracing livestreaming as a means of reaching a wider audience
