Explosive found at Brazil shrine before pope trip: army

Pope Francis waves at faithfuls from the popemobile on his way to the Guanabara Palace after his arrival in Rio de Janeiro on July 22, 2013. (AFP)

SAO PAULO (AFP) – A homemade explosive device was discovered in the bathroom of the parking garage of the Brazilian shrine that Pope Francis will visit this week, the military said Monday.

The military said the device was destroyed after its discovery at the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida between Rio and Sao Paulo, which the pope is due to visit on Wednesday.