“Monks’ message of humility”

Reuters photographer Ricardo Moraes spent time documenting a religious fraternity called O Caminho, (The Way), a group of Franciscan monks and nuns who help the homeless on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. They consider the election of Pope Francis, the first pontiff to take the name of St Francis of Assisi, to be a confirmation of their beliefs in poverty and simplicity. -- Reuters ( 20 photos total)

Brother Jose Wellington Damasio Antonio, a member of the Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, prays in the chapel of fraternity's house in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 2. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters)

Brother Placido ,left, a member of the Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, shaves a homeless man in the Campo Grande neighborhood. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Jose Wellington Damasio, left, and Antonio, members of the Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, pray before breakfast in the kitchen of the fraternity's house in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 2. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Sister Juliana Santos, a member of Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, wears a bracelet that signifies her dedication to Jesus, at the fraternity's house in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 16. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Lidiane Pereira, right, reacts after she receives her habit upon reaching the level of "aspirant" within Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, during a mass at the group's house in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 8. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Sister Filoteia, a member of the Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, cuts a homeless person's nails in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 16. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Brother Glaudio, of Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, plays the guitar in the chapel of the fraternity's house. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Members of the Franciscan fraternity, O Caminho from left; Renata Florencio, Palloma Barradas, and Juliana Santos, receive their habits upon reaching the level of "aspirant", during a mass at the group's house. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Members of the Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, play religious music in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 17. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Members of the Franciscan fraternity, O Caminho, prepare breakfast in their kitchen in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 2. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Paulo Fernandes, who is homeless, sits in a house belonging to Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, where he has been living for two months. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Sister Clara, of Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, walks past clothes lines at the fraternity's house. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Brother Marcos Martins, member of Franciscan fraternity, O Caminho, cleans a bathroom at the fraternity's house in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 2. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Members of the Franciscan fraternity, O Caminho, give haircuts and shave homeless people in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 16. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Brother Placido, left, of the Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, prays at the chapel of the fraternity's house as apprentice Leanderson rests in another room in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 2. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Placido, left, and Jose Wellington Damasio Antonio, members of the Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, pray at the chapel in the fraternity's house. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Members of Franciscan fraternity, O Caminho from left; Dayane Ervencio, Lidiane Pereira, and Juliana Santos, pray during a mass at the group's house in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 8. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

A nun from the Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, talks to the homeless in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Two members, center, of the Franciscan fraternity O Caminho attend a mass to mark 100 days until World Youth Day, in the Metropolitan Cathedral, in Rio de Janeiro on April 13. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

Elaine dos Santos, right, who is homeless and lives with Franciscan fraternity O Caminho, receives a hug from a nun after an early morning prayer in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on April 16. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters) #

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