POPE-LATAM/BOLIVIA-SANTA CRUZ-MASS PREVIEW Bolivian devotees ready for Pope's Mass in Santa Cruz

Record ID: 147826

  • Title: POPE-LATAM/BOLIVIA-SANTA CRUZ-MASS PREVIEW Bolivian devotees ready for Pope's Mass in Santa Cruz
  • Date: 9th July 2015
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF YOUNGSTERS SINGING AND CLAPPING CLOSE-UP OF JACKET THAT READS: "VOLUNTEER" MORE OF YOUNGSTERS SINGING
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA33RIEFODEAFA54FRG4Q5M2LG3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Roman Catholic faithful stood in line on the street at dawn in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz on Thursday (July 9) in expectation of hearing a Mass given by Pope Francis.
    After spending a few hours in capital La Paz, the Pope moved on to the low-lying provincial city of Santa Cruz for a two-day stay.
    Pope Francis on Wednesday had praised Bolivia's social reforms to spread wealth under leftist President Evo Morales and urged the world not to view prosperity as material wealth, which he warned only breeds corruption and conflict.
    Morales' strained relations with the Catholic Church have begun thawing under the Argentine-born pontiff's papacy, and he warmly embraced the pope seven years after denouncing the Church as "an instrument of domination".
    Youngsters sang and clapped, while policemen prepared to deal with the huge crowds.
    Others slept under duvet covers hoping to catch a glimpse of Francis, Latin America's first pope.
    "I will wait all night until this (venue) opens to hear Mass," said Roman Catholic, Angelita Silva.
    Local Church leaders are calling Bolivia's visit "Reconciliation and Renewal" and say the pope will seek to heal rifts between the country's indigenous people and descendants of its Spanish colonial conquerors, who brought the Catholic faith to Bolivia.
    The Pope, who has made defence of the poor and the planet major planks of his papacy, also praised the fact that the Bolivian constitution "recognises the rights of individuals, minorities and the natural environment".
    Roman Catholic devotee, Guillermo Suarez, said they asked for a justice, especially for the poor.
    "The expectation we have as Christians is to have a better world. A country with more justice, more social justice and justice for the poor most of all, for the meek so that there is no political persecution so that it's a fairer government," said Suarez.
    Roman Catholic nun, Norma Cardoso, said the Pope's visit was a blessing.
    "The Pope's blessing for all of us so that we are all united, so that we're able to work and so forth, according to all of the pope's messages," Cardoso said.
    Finally, devotee Gabriela Flores, could not hide her excitement with regards to the visit of Pope Francis.
    "This (visit) has a huge significance for the whole country but also for Latin America. It's incredible he can also go to Palma Sola, where it will have a great significance for each one of us because only looking at the Pope is incredible. To feel that excitement, to feel that vibe and energy. It's striking," Flores said.
    Francis flew into Bolivia from Quito, Ecuador where he drew crowds totalling nearly 2 million people.
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