May 4 (Bloomberg) -- Pope Benedict XVI will barely get a glimpse of Potim when he rides along a 7-kilometer stretch of the town during a trip to Brazil next week.

That hasn't stopped the community of 17,000 people from spending 209,000 reais ($103,000) to pave dirt roads and build sidewalks to welcome Benedict on his first visit to South America as pope. He will open a conference for Latin American and Caribbean bishops in the Brazilian city of Aparecida during the journey May 9-13.

Benedict's visit to Brazil, the world's largest Roman Catholic country, comes at a time when the religion is declining there. That means the church's influence on the government and its actions will wane, said Andre Cesar, a political scientist at Brasilia-based Goes & Consultores Associados.

``It's all about power,'' said Cesar, 37. ``Nobody likes to admit it's about power, but that is what moves the world.''

Catholics make up 74 percent of Brazil's population of 190 million, down from 84 percent in 1991, according to government figures. Membership in Protestant denominations, including Baptist and Pentecostal churches, increased to 15 percent from 6 percent.

``His visit to Brazil will certainly help recover those former Catholics who converted to the evangelical churches, especially when they hear his sermons and prayers,'' said Dom Oneres Marchiori, 73, a member of the National Bishop Confederation.

Others aren't so sure. Benedict, 80, isn't as media-savvy as his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, said Afonso Maria Ligorio Soares, a theology professor at Pontificia Catolica University in Sao Paulo.

Tough Act to Follow

John Paul was greeted by enthusiastic throngs who had never seen a pope when he first came to Brazil in 1980. The trip was such a success that he returned in 1990. He used media and technology to promote the church, from befriending rock star Bono and putting out a double CD of him singing the Rosary to setting up his own e-mail address and communicating with his flock by text message.

``Benedict XVI isn't worried about the advance of evangelical churches in the country,'' Soares said. ``That is a concern of the Brazilian Catholic Church. He seeks the quality rather than the number of followers of the Catholic Church.''

The church has wielded influence in Brazil since the country was discovered by Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral five centuries ago, said Cesar, the political scientist. During the 1970s military dictatorship, the church helped contain violence against civilians and defended land- distribution policies to reduce poverty. Catholic doctrine has been used to maintain the status quo of certain segments of society, such as peasants who work under poor conditions without rebelling, Cesar said.

Reaching the People

Benedict plans several large-scale events to connect with Brazilians. He is to celebrate Mass for more than a million people in Sao Paulo on May 11, when he will canonize Frei Galvao, nominated as Brazil's first saint. He also will meet with 40,000 youngsters at a soccer stadium.

Sao Paulo state and city are spending about 2.4 million reais on the pope's visit. They're building two stages, installing 25 power generators and 15 giant video screens, and providing 1,000 portable toilets in places where Benedict will address crowds, said Fabiola Bemfeito, a spokesman for the city's tourism agency.

Aparecida is home to Santuario Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida, the world's second-biggest Catholic church. It's spending 2 million reais to revamp its downtown area and create pedestrian walkways. Half of the money is being provided by the state, said Rogerio Braga, a spokesman for the town.

German Artworks

At Sao Bento abbey, in downtown Sao Paulo, 14 rooms were remodeled for the pope's two-day stay. Paintings and statues of saints made by German Benedictine monks more than two centuries ago are being restored, in honor of his German heritage.

The abbey is financing the work with donations from businesses and individuals, said Brother Joao Evangelista Kovas, 32, one of 35 monks at the abbey, built in 1634.

About 240,000 people are forecast to travel to Sao Paulo to see the pope, Bemfeito said. Tourist spending such as hotels and meals is estimated at 60 million reais, she said.

``Seeing the Pope in person will be a dream come true, a special moment in my life,'' said Brasilia-based lawyer Soraya Batista Kassab, 28, who is flying to Sao Paulo on May 10. ``I wouldn't miss his visit for anything in the world.''

In Potim, 170 kilometers (110 miles) northeast of Sao Paulo, the spending to spruce up the town may not buy residents much time with Benedict.

``The pope doesn't plan to stop the car to visit,'' said Reinaldo Cabral, 46, who's in charge of organizing events in the town. ``But we're hoping he will.''

To contact the reporters on this story: Romina Nicaretta in Sao Paulo at rnicaretta@bloomberg.net; Fabio Alves in Brasilia at falves3@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 4, 2007 14:54 EDT