Argentina’s Pope Carnival

Photos by Natacha Pisarenko

A samba school has organized an unusual show to honor Pope Francis during the opening of a hugely popular carnival in Argentina.

The troupe Ara Yevi combined characters dressed as the pope or angels with scantily clad female dancers in its homage to the Argentine-born pontiff when the carnival opened Saturday in Gualeguaychu, about 230 kilometers (about 140 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires.

The 300-member Ara Yevi group is performing with two other schools during the carnival through Feb. 28. Some 400,000 visitors are expected.

Four floats represent different aspects of the pope’s background: his arrival at the Vatican, his love of soccer, the tango, and his earlier work in shantytowns. On one float, a huge dove of peace looms above the pope and world.

---

Click on any image to launch the Argentina’s Pope Carnival gallery. 

Roman Figun, a local lawyer, performs the role of Pope Francis with the Ara Yevi samba school as he stands on a bus representing his humble arrival to the Vatican during carnival celebrations in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, early Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. Ara Yevi, one of the three samba schools performing this year, used Pope Francis as their central theme. Figun says he does his best to play the Pope and his carnival group wants to spread his message. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Ara Yevi samba school dancers dressed as angles sing and dance during a carnival parade in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, early Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. The samba school paid tribute to the Pope Francis at the opening of the country’s biggest carnival celebration. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Members of the Ara Yevi samba school perform on a float representing a home in a shantytown during a carnival parade in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, early Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. The samba school paid tribute to Pope Francis with a four float parade, each of them commemorating different aspects of the Pope’s life, including his work with the poor who live in shantytowns. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Evangelina Carrozo, a dancer with the Ara Yevi samba school, performs during a carnival parade in tribute to Pope Francis in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, early Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. The troupe’s main song says : “We’re the power of a revolution, let’s make noise, it’s carnival,” quoting the Argentine Pontiff’s famous call to “make noise” to the crowd during his 2013 visit to Brazil. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

An Ara Yevi samba school dancer performs in the colors of Argentina’s San Lorenzo soccer club during carnival in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, early Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. The samba school paid tribute to Pope Francis this year with a several floats that showcased different aspects of his life, including his support for the San Lorenzo soccer club. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Roman Figun, a local lawyer, gets dressed up to play the role of Pope Francis as the Ara Yevi samba school prepares to put on a carnival parade in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A dancer with the Ara Yevi samba school performs during a carnival parade that pays tribute to Pope Francis in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, early Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A tourist holds a T-shirt showing Pope Francis wearing a San Lorenzo soccer jersey under his robe as she poses for a photo with a samba school dancer decked out in soccer balls and the team’s colors at carnival in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, early Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A dancer from the Ara Yevi samba school poses for a picture on a float representing the Vatican during carnival celebrations in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

The Ara Yevi samba school performs on a float showcasing Pope Francis during carnival in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, early Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Roman Figun, a local lawyer, performs the role of Pope Francis with the Ara Yevi samba school during their carnival parade that pays tribute to the Argentine-born pontiff in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

The Ara Yevi samba school performs with a float showcasing Pope Francis, their homage to the Argentine-born pontiff during carnival celebrations in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, early Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. The group is performing with two other schools during the carnival that continues throughout Feb. 28. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

The Ara Yevi samba school put the finishing to touches on one of their floats, decorated with Pope Francis, before the carnival parade in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015. This one of four floats that pays tribute to the Pope, highlighting his arrival to the Vatican, his love for soccer and tango dance, and his work with the poor. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A dancer from the Ara Yevi samba school performs wearing white wings during a carnival parade of dancers and a float decorated with a statue of Pope Francis and a peace dove, as their tribute to the Argentine-born pontiff in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, early Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

---

 

View the Argentina Pope Carnival collection

 

Opening text from AP news story, AP PHOTOS: Argentina samba school pays tribute to pope.

 

Spotlight is the blog of AP Images, the world’s largest collection of historical and contemporary photos. AP Images provides instant access to AP’s iconic photos and adds new content every minute of every day from every corner of the world, making it an essential source of photos and graphics for professional image buyers and commercial customers. Whether your needs are for editorial, commercial, or personal use, AP Images has the content and the expert sales team to fulfill your image requirements. Visit apimages.com to learn more.

 

Written content on this site is not created by the editorial department of AP, unless otherwise noted. 

 

AP Images on Twitter | AP Images on Facebook | AP Images on Google+