POPE-LATAM/ECUADOR-ARRIVAL UPDATE Pope Francis arrives in Ecuador to start tour of South America

Record ID: 148332

  • Title: POPE-LATAM/ECUADOR-ARRIVAL UPDATE Pope Francis arrives in Ecuador to start tour of South America
  • Date: 5th July 2015
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF POPE RECEIVING GIFTS FROM CHILDREN AND LEAVING AIRPORT
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ecuador
  • Country: Ecuador
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6RD9CFGRGX6ZZLFYIANLN7K7H
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Laughing as his hat flew off in the Andean highland wind, Pope Francis flew into Ecuador on Sunday (July 5) to start a "homecoming" tour of South America, where he will champion the rights of the poor and the planet.
    His visit to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay - three of the region's poorest and smallest countries - is Francis' first abroad since his landmark encyclical urging an end to man's degradation of the global environment.
    "I thank God for having allowed me to return to Latin America and to be here with you today in this beautiful land of Ecuador," the Argentine-born pontiff said in a speech on the runway after his 13-hour flight from Rome.
    "Giving special attention to our more fragile brothers an the more vulnerable minorities which are a debt all of Latin America has," he said turning to President Rafael Correa of Ecuador. "For this Mr. President you may always count with the Church to serve the Ecuadorian people."
    Francis visited Brazil for a youth festival in 2013 but that was to substitute for predecessor Benedict after his sudden resignation. Because he chose the three nations himself, Vatican aides say this is the real "homecoming" to his native continent.
    His first host, Ecuador, has for weeks been hit by anti-government demonstrations, with thousands on the streets to protest against tax changes and alleged state authoritarianism.
    Protest leaders have called a moratorium during the pope's visit out of respect for him.
    Celebrated by supporters as a champion of the poor but cast by critics as an autocrat, leftist leader Correa was elected in 2006 vowing to spread wealth more fairly and protect the country's natural riches.
    "The continent is a continent of peace but the insulting opulence of the few alongside the intolerable poverty are daily bullets against everyday humanity. You are a giant of morality for believers and non-believers. You told us, the leaders gathered at the Summit of the Americas in Panama, and I quote 'The inequality, injustice, the unjust distribution of wealth and resources is a point of conflict and violence between people because the success of some is built on the necessary sacrifice of others," said Correa in his welcoming remarks at the airport.
    Quito, a highland capital mixing colonial cobbled streets with modern high-rises, was plastered with posters and billboards welcoming Francis. A million extra people are in Quito and the coastal city of Guayaquil for masses.
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