More than one million people turned up to hear mass as Pope Francis makes his first stop in Ecuador for his Latin America Tour.
Pope Francis arrived in Ecuador last Sunday for the first leg of his Latin America tour. It is second visit to the country since he became Pope back in 2013. During his arrival, city officials said that there were millions of visitors that came to Guayaquil to see the Pope and attend his mass. The crowd was massive around Guayaquil Samanes Park where he toured using the Pope Mobile.
According to BBC News, Vatican officials estimated that there were around half a million people that lined up and waited on the streets of Ecuador's capital Quinto just to be able to see the Pope's arrival last Sunday. Many also gathered and stayed the night outside the Vatican Embassy where Pope Francis stayed the night.
One of those present said the Pope joined those outside in prayer so that they would go home and let the neighbors get some sleep.
"I am going to give you a blessing so that you go home and rest and let the neighbors get some sleep," Pope Francis said.
The Pope's first full day happened on Monday when he held an open-air mass in Guayaquil. His first mass was dedicated to the families. He refers to them as "the nearest hospital, the first school for the young, the best home for the elderly." He also calls family as a refuge where "no one is rejected."
"The family constitutes the best 'social capital.' It cannot be replaced by other institutions. It needs to be helped and strengthened," Pope Francis said.
A report from the Wall Street Journal stated that before his mass at Ecuador's capital, Pope Francis made a quick 15-minute tour around that park in his Pope Mobile. The crowd was very enthusiastic as they waved their flags, greeted the Pope with shouts, waved handkerchiefs and threw flowers.
Still on his way to his scheduled mass, the Pope made a quick stop at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy where he visited handicapped children and adults. Later that evening, Pope met up with Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa and made a visit to Quito's 16th-century old cathedral. Pope Francis is scheduled to stay in Ecuador until he departs to Bolivia on Wednesday.
Pope Francis is the first ever Vatican leader to come from South America. Sadly to those in his hometown, he will not be making a visit to Argentina.