PICTURED: Editor selections from Latin America
Countries across Latin America and the Caribbean wound up their Carnival celebrations last week, an annual ritual captured in some of the top images taken by Associated Press photographers across the region.
At the end of the week, Pope Francis flew into Mexico for a colorful welcome by singers and dancers at the start of his five-day visit. On his way, he stopped over in Cuba to meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, a historic step in the 1,000-year-old schism within Christianity.
The day before Francis arrived in Mexico, a prison riot in the northern city of Monterrey left 49 inmates dead and about a dozen injured after brutal fighting among prisoners armed with makeshift knives and clubs.
In this Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 photo, a resident watches a "Careta" parade through the streets of Triunfo, Brazil. The traditional festivity dates back almost a century. Residents say it was created in this small town by two men who weren't allowed to take part in a folk celebration because they were drunk. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
The spreading Zika outbreak remained a big concern for the region, with governments stepping up efforts to fumigate against mosquitoes that carry the virus as well as to educate people about removing mosquito breeding grounds.
Soccer fans got plenty of action in the latest round of qualifying matches for the Copa Libertadores tournament.
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This gallery was curated by photo editor Leslie Mazoch in Mexico City.
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Associated Press photographers and photo editors on Twitter: http://apne.ws/150o6jo
In this Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 photo, Christian symbols decorate the hat of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, speaking upon arrival at the Jose Marti International airport in Havana, Cuba. The Patriarch's headdress, topped by a cross, is called a "koukoulion" and adorned with a six-winged celestial being known as a "seraphim." (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)
In this Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016 photo, Pope Francis tries on a Mexican Charro sombrero given to him by a person in the crowd in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo. The pontiff kicked off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with speeches to the country's political and ecclesial elites. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
In this Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 photo, a Carnival dancer exits the back of a bus as she arrives for the last day of Carnival celebrations in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Political tensions haven't stopped the Haitian capital's annual Carnival, but the uncertainty led to the cancellation of the first day of festivities and put such a damper on the party that a number of top bands have pulled out. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
In this Friday, Feb. 12, 2016 photo, Pope Francis, left, embraces Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill after signing a joint declaration on religious unity in Havana, Cuba. The two religious leaders met for the first-ever papal meeting, a historic development in the 1,000-year schism within Christianity. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Pool)
In this Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 photo, health worker fumigates to prevent Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika virus, at a cemetery on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. The Aedes aegypti mosquito known to spread the Zika virus lives and breeds in people's homes and yards, making it tough to reach with sprays and often requiring labor-intensive door-to-door interventions. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
In this Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 photo, a senior prays during an Ash Wednesday Mass in La Paz, Bolivia. Ash Wednesday for Catholics ushers in a period of penitence and reflection, known as the season of Lent, that leads up to Easter Sunday. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
In this Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 photo, relatives of inmates stand outside the Topo Chico prison, where a riot broke out overnight in Monterrey, Mexico. Dozens of inmates were killed and several injured in a brutal fight between two rival factions at the prison in northern Mexico, according to the state governor. (AP Photo/Emilio Vazquez)
In this Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 photo, Mauro Bogado of Argentina's Huracan kicks the ball past William Diaz of Venezuela's Caracas FC at their Copa Libertadores soccer match in Caracas, Venezuela. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
In this Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 photo, "Caboclo de Lanca," or lance-bearers, Nego Benvindo, left, and Jose Esteves, walk to town for Maracatu Carnival celebrations in Nazare da Mata, Brazil. The Afro-indigenous tradition is one of the oldest in northeastern Pernambuco state. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
