POPE-LATAM/ECUADOR-QUITO MASS Pope urges Latin America to find unity through common faith

Record ID: 148140

  • Title: POPE-LATAM/ECUADOR-QUITO MASS Pope urges Latin America to find unity through common faith
  • Date: 7th July 2015
  • Summary: QUITO, ECUADOR (JULY 7, 2015) (REUTERS) POPE WAVING TO CROWD FROM POPEMOBILE CROWD CHEERING AS POPE DRIVES PAST WOMAN WIPING AWAY TEARS VARIOUS OF POPE WAVING AT CROWD FROM POPE MOBILE POPE AND OFFICIALS WALKING UP RAMP FOR MASS
  • Embargoed: 22nd July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ecuador
  • Country: Ecuador
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAACNN8CEZHJAO1RKVNJRVGHECX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Pope Francis called on people across Latin America to turn to their common Christian roots as an inspiration to resolve differences when he said Mass for nearly one million Catholics in the Ecuadorean capital on Tuesday (July 7).
    "We live in a world lacerated by wars and violence. It would be superficial to think that division and hate affect only the tension between countries or social groups. In reality, they are manifestations of that 'diffuse individualism' that separates us and which we face," the Pope told the crowd gathered at Quito's Bicentenario Park against the backdrop of the Andean mountains on his third day in Ecuador.
    In his homily, the Argentine pontiff praised the conviction and strength in the "cry for freedom" during the region's independence struggle from European powers 200 years ago.
    He urged the continent's people to use the Gospel to bring people together.
    "While in the world, especially in some countries, various forms of war and conflicts reappear, we Christians insist on our proposal: to recognize the other, to heal the injuries, to construct bridges, to strengthen ties and to help each other to carry each our loads," he said.
    The Mass was attended by President Rafael Correa, who had private talks with the pope on Monday night at the presidential palace after Francis returned from the coastal city of Guayaquil, where he said Mass for 800,000 people.
    Two bouquets of thousands of roses rested on the tarmac in front of the stage as Francis, wearing a vestment with an indigenous Andean design on it, said the Mass before the huge crowd. Some of the prayers were said in Kichwa, an indigenous language spoken in the Andean region.
    Tens of thousands of people braved wind and rain to camp out overnight. The weather later changed and the service took place under a hot sun.
    Pope John Paul II arrived at the same Bicentenario Park when it was an airport 30 years ago.
    Political protests had been rocking Ecuador, a socialist-ruled nation of 15 million people, before the pontiff's arrival, but his presence has brought a temporary halt to demonstrations.
    Francis, making his first trip abroad since he released his landmark encyclical last month on defending the poor and the planet, was due to address university students and civil groups on Tuesday night.
    Francis is visiting three of the smallest and poorest nations during a week-long tour of his native South America.
    On Wednesday, the pope flies to La Paz, Bolivia, another highland city. The last leg of his trip is Paraguay.
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