Brazil ? Thousands of Brazilians marched against abortion Tuesday ahead of Pope Benedict XVI’s first Latin American visit during which he is expected to issue a strong message against the procedure that was legalized in Mexico City last month.

Legions of workers put the finishing touches on a soccer stadium and the runway of a small airport where the 80-year-old pontiff is expected to attract millions to open-air ceremonies after he arrives today for a five-day tour expected to test his stamina.

While Benedict will try to woo young Brazilians with a ceremony Thursday at the famed Pacaembu soccer stadium, many in the world’s largest Catholic nation are torn between the church’s traditional teachings and the pressures of the modern world, with the abortion issue at the forefront.