Huge crowds met Pope Francis Monday
in Guayaquil, Ecuador's second city, flocking to hear the
pontiff say Mass at the South American country's major port with
stunning views over the Pacific Ocean.
Some of the faithful camped out Sunday night to be sure of
having a spot to see the pope, who was born in Argentina and is
a champion of the poor and downtrodden.
The pope was travelling from Quito, Ecuador's capital city,
and as many as one million people were expected for the Mass in
Guayaquil's 'Parque de Los Samanes'.
Many youth groups were taking part, singing songs and
leading cheers including 'Long Live Pope Francis' amid seas of
flags from Ecuador and Argentina.
Before the Mass, Francis joked with faithful at the nearby
National Shrine of Divine Mercy.
"I'll give you my blessing but I won't take anything from
you", he quipped to general amusement.
"Will you pray for me? Do you promise me," he teasingly
asked.
"Yeeeessss!!!," came the reply.
Francis, who arrived by plane from Quito, was expected to
dedicate Monday's Mass to the family and themes of this year's
synod.
The pope's three-country tour in Latin America will also
take him to Bolivia and Paraguay.
After the Mass and a meeting with local Jesuits, the pope
was set to fly the roughly 265 kilometres back to Quito to meet
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and the capital's cathedral.
The Argentine pontiff had already been greeted by massive
crowds after landing in Quito on Sunday.
Ahead of Monday's Mass, Vatican Spokesman Father Federico
Lombardi said that, during his address this September to the
United Nations in New York on his first visit to the United
States, Francis will now be able to be "a bearer of the voices
and expectations of the poor" after his Latin America trip.
"I think it's very interesting to visit poor, marginal
peoples who are very rich in traditions and vitality, from the
standpoint of human power, before going to the UN Assembly," he
said.
Lombardi said he expected upwards of two million people to
attend the pope's events in Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay.
Guayaquil has an overwhelming Catholic population and takes
its name from the Indios chief "Guayas" and his wife" Quil" -
legendary heroes who may have led the indigenous resistance
against the Spanish 'Conquistadores' but whose descendants have
nevertheless kept the faith implanted there.
It was therefore fitting that a ceremony in a city which
takes its name from a couple, should be dedicated to the family.
And families were numerous among the thousands who filled
up the venue for the mass already up to eight hours before the
celebration.
It was fitting too that this pope who belongs to the
Society of Jesus planned to fleetingly visit the Jesuit College
there.
Observers have recalled the special evangelising mission
the Jesuits played throughout Latin America and their role in
helping the indigenous people to safeguard their rights and
culture in the face of the Spanish oppressor of the time - as
seen in the popular film Mission.
The ope's first date in Guayaquil, at the National Shrine
of Divine Mercy, was at an all-new building, the brain child of
architect Eduardo Romero, which can hold up to 2,300 faithful
and has in its grounds, lodging facilities for priests, an old
age home and areas dedicated to recreation, catechesis and
evangelisation.
Francis was set to return to Quito in time for tea, or
'mate' in the local parlance, for his other two major
appointments of the day - the courtesy visit to President Rafael
Correa and a visit to the city's cathedral, where yet another
enormous crowd was expected to turn out.
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