Singing priest, Father Marcelo, 46, was a personal trainer before he joined the clergy. Now he is at the forefront of a Brazilian movement known as the Charismatic Catholic Renovation trying to invigorate the Church and lure new and old followers back to the fold.

As he walks through the people after mass many break down into tears. Others hold up their official employment cards to be blessed. Read More

Father Marcelo Rossi, a nationally known singer, TV host and actor, is campaigning to stem the exodus of the faithful from the Catholic Church in Latin America's biggest nation.

His Mother of God sanctuary, a warehouse-like space that is not yet completed, will seat 6000 people and have standing room for 14,000 more. Outside there is space for 80,000 people who could watch Mass on video screens.

Father Rossi, whose concerts fill stadiums, has been described as an unusual combination of Catholic doctrinal orthodoxy and secular showmanship.

The rock-star priest is not a formal member of the Charismatic Renewal, but in an interview two years ago he credited this movement with showing him his mission.

"When I rediscovered my Catholic faith, it was during a period in which the Church [in Brazil] was submerged in partisan politics, under the influence of the theology of liberation … which ended up leaving a huge void," he said.

"I had just lost a beloved relative and I was desperately looking to hear the Word of God, but all I heard at church was politics. An experience with the Charismatics showed me immediately what God wanted me to do.

"My calling is to spark among Brazilians the love for the Church, the Eucharist and Mary, all devotions downplayed by [Liberation theology] and undermined by Evangelical groups," he added.

Brazil still has a bigger Catholic population than any other country, but the proportion of its 192 million people identifying as Catholic has fallen in 10 years from 74 to 65 per cent.

A study last year by the Getulio Vargas Foundation found that those leaving the Catholic Church are now more likely to avoid organised religion altogether rather than join one of the evangelical churches that previously attracted many Catholics.

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Associated Press

Image: allmusic