Pope Francis draws hundreds of thousands in Ecuador
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador -- Pope Francis has concluded the first mass of his Latin America trip in Quayaquil, Ecuador, where hundreds of thousands of faithful braved high temperatures and humidity in order to catch a glimpse of him. Guayaquil, Ecuador's major port city, is the nation's financial capital and its biggest city.
The area around the mass, held in a park outside Guayaquil, had a very festive atmosphere, with people selling hats, food and drinks, souvenirs and all kinds of head coverings. Almost everyone wore a hat or carried an umbrella, due to the intense heat. Entire families huddled under sheets or blankets to shield themselves. People of all ages attended. One father carried his one-month-old daughter in his arms, while his wife held their two small boys by hand; they said this event was too important for them to miss.
The service was colorful, incorporating local music and traditions. In his homily, the pope spoke about the value of the family, saying the family is the foundation of society, "the nearest hospital, the first school for the young, the best home for the elderly." He said the family is where we learn to forgive, even after fighting.
After the mass, Pope Francis heads to a Jesuit school nearby, where he'll spend time with Father Paquito, a 90-year-old Jesuit priest who is an old friend. Then, he flies back to Quito for a courtesy visit with the President of Ecuador, and a prayer at the Quito Cathedral.
This is the Francis' second trip to Latin America as Pope. He'll also visit Bolivia and Paraguay, and the entire trip will last 9 days.