POPE-LATAM/BOLIVIA-PREPS Anticipation high in Bolivia as country prepares for papal visit

Record ID: 148781

  • Title: POPE-LATAM/BOLIVIA-PREPS Anticipation high in Bolivia as country prepares for papal visit
  • Date: 1st July 2015
  • Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL OF LA PAZ CLOSE-UP OF CROSS METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL OF LA PAZ VARIOUS OF REFURBISHMENT WORKS ON THE CATHEDRAL VARIOUS OF CATHEDRAL INTERIORS ILLIMANI MOUNTAIN VARIOUS OF THE CITY OF LA PAZ VARIOUS OF PEOPLE JUMPING IN ZEBRA OUTFITS DESIGNATED AS SYMBOLIC GUARDIANS FOR THE PAPAL VISIT THE CIUDAD DEL ALTO CHURCH VARIOU
  • Embargoed: 16th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9ESFLY1HGAX5NB3IEVRKZUB8F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Bolivia continued sprucing up its major cities on Tuesday (June 30) in anticipation of Pope Francis' upcoming visit, updating construction at cathedrals, airports and roads, building custom-made altars and murals, and revving up crowds of jumping zebras.
    Bolivians in the capital of La Paz have been preparing their zebra outfits. The zebra has been designated as the symbolic guardian of the visit, which will focus on the reconciliation of differences in a country riddled by social and ethnic rifts.
    Cloths and scalpels were taken to the Metropolitan Cathedral in a facelift ahead of the Pope's meeting there with representatives of the civil society, whilst the international airport in El Alto received the final touches before the Pope inaugurates its recent expansion.
    Other improvements were made to local roads and motorways, which resident Dora Apaza said were in poor condition.
    "We are very happy with the improvements being made to the area because for a very long time they were not looked after, they were not taken care of as they are doing now. Residents took charge of painting the kiosks, the walls. We are looking forward to Pope Francis's visit with a lot of happiness and faith," said Apaza.
    Other commemorative preparations include a wide mural in La Paz featuring Pope Francis appearing among the mountainous Bolivian landscape, and a line of limited edition papal treats by Chocolates For You.
    According to the Secretary General of the papal visit to Bolivia, Monsignor Jose Fuentes, everything is on track for next week's trip.
    "It involves many days' work, a lot of hustle and bustle, but the coordination between all parties arranging the visit has been completed and now it is up to each one to complete their part. We will have test runs on Saturday July 4 in La Paz and July 5 in Santa Cruz with all those involved in the organisation of the visit," said Fuentes.
    Meanwhile, the nuns of Carmelitas Convent in Santa Cruz were handed a mighty task.
    "They gave us the order of 700,000 communion wafers at the start of May, if I am not mistaken," said Sister Maria Jesus Brito.
    For health reasons, the 78-year-old Francis, who lost part of one lung to disease when he was a young man, will stay in the Bolivian capital which sits 4000 metres above sea level for only about four hours before moving on to Santa Cruz.
    The Pope will visit Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay between July 6 and 12.
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