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Pope Francis in Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay 5-13 July 2015
Pope Francis in Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay
5-13 July 2015
Context of the trip
Ninth foreign trip of Pope Francis and his second to Latin America
First Latin American Pope to visit these countries
Some issues between Catholic Church and governments in recent past but Francis very popular
These countries visited by St John Paul II in 1985/1988
Previous visits of Fr Bergoglio
Ecuador: 1980 (visiting the six Jesuit schools)
Bolivia: 1974 (meeting of Jesuit provincials LatAm); 1979 (Diocesan Missions)
Paraguay: 1977 (meeting of Jesuit provincials); 1980 (meeting of Jesuit novice masters)
Ecuador Bolivia Paraguay
Population 16m 11m 7m
Catholics 82% 76% 90%
Other Chistians
11% 17% 9%
Dioceses or equivalent
23 17 14
Highlights of trip
8 days, 3 countries, 5 large Masses
Visiting the “peripheries”: Old people’s home, slum, high security prison, children’s hospital
Pope himself chose the countries: not top in geopolitical rankings
Fr Lombardi, main themes: poverty, democracy and the rights of indigenous people - and Laudato Si
“I want to be a witness of this joy of the Gospel and bring to you the tenderness and caress of God, our
Father, especially to the children most in need, to the elderly, the sick, the imprisoned, the poor, to those
who are victims of this throwaway culture.”
Pope’s intentions for July
His universal intention is "Politics. That political responsibility may be lived at all levels as a high form of charity.”
His evangelisation intention is for "the Poor in Latin America. That, amid social inequalities, Latin American Christians may bear witness to love for the poor and contribute to a more fraternal society."
Ecuador, 5-8 July
“The forthcoming trip by Pope Francis has awakened a great deal of enthusiasm: 80% of
Ecuadorians are baptised but they need the presence and
encouraging voice of the Pope” Luis Latorre
Ambassador of Ecuador to the Holy See
Ecuador
“Welcome to the country which loves life”. Colours in logo represent the diversity of cultures and traditions in Ecuador
Motto: “A evangelizar con alegría” (let us evangelise with joy)
Pope has great devotion to “La Dolorosa”, a very much loved advocation of Our Lady in Ecuador
Programme Ecuador
6 July: Mass in Guayaquil; meeting with President Correa
7 July: Mass in Quito; meeting with people in Education; meeting with Civil Society; visit to Jesuit church
8 July: Old people’s home; meeting with priests and religious
Bolivia, 8-10 July
“In Bolivia there has been a commotion among the
population: they have all agreed to receive the Pope,
both government and opposition”
Erika Farfán Mariaca Business Minister in Bolivia
Bolivia
Motto: “Con Francisco anunciamos la alegría del Evangelio” (with Francis we announce the joy of the Gospel)
Reconciliation and unity
Visit to high security prison
Luis Espinal SJ, killed 1980
Will be in La Paz only a few hours because of the height of the city
Programme Bolivia
8 July: Meeting with President Morales; meeting with Civil Society
9 July: Mass in Santa Cruz; meeting with priests and religious
10 July: Visit to Palmasola prison
$122m benefits Bolivia
$49m people from Bolivia; $73m people from outside
1.34m people expected from Bolivia and 0.6m people from outside
Government costs 2.4m BOL (less than $0.5m)
(Statement from Marko Machicao, Ministry of Culture)
Paraguay, 10-12 July
“The trip of Pope Francis to Paraguay is a blessing from God, like a visit of the father of the prodigal
son” Esteban Kriskovic
Ambassador of Paraguay to the Holy See
Paraguay
Motto: “Mensajero de alegría y de paz” (messenger of joy and peace) - Guarani in logo
Caacupe is a famous Shrine of Our Lady visited annually by half the population of Paraguay
Many Paraguayans in Argentinian slums visited by Cardinal Bergoglio
War of 1864/70 and Paraguayan women as saviours of the country
Pope Francis meeting gay-rights advocate Simon Cazal (married in Argentina) in meeting with NGOs
Programme Paraguay
10 July: meeting with President Horacio Cartes
11 July: visit to Children’s hospital; Mass in Caacupe Shrine; meeting with Civil Society; meeting with bishops, priests and religious
12 July: Visit Bañado Norte (slums); Mass in Asunción; meeting with Young People
Costs Paraguay
US$6m
Split 2/3 State, 1/3 Church
