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Pope Francis starts Latin America visit in Ecuador | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Pope Francis has arrived in Ecuador on the first stop of a seven-day tour of South America, his second visit to the region since becoming pontiff in 2013. | |
"Everyone in society should be able to benefit from progress in the world," he said in a speech on the Quito airport runway. | |
His trip will focus on the issue of poverty, the Vatican said. | His trip will focus on the issue of poverty, the Vatican said. |
The pontiff will also travel to Bolivia and Paraguay, but not his home country of Argentina. | The pontiff will also travel to Bolivia and Paraguay, but not his home country of Argentina. |
The Vatican said the decision not to visit the continent's larger nations reflected the Pope's interest in the "peripheries". | The Vatican said the decision not to visit the continent's larger nations reflected the Pope's interest in the "peripheries". |
'Unfair and immoral' | |
Pope Francis was welcomed at Quito airport by left-wing President Rafael Correa, a devout Catholic. | |
Mr Correa praised Ecuador's multicultural heritage and biodiversity and criticised the immigration policies of wealthy nations. | |
"They are looking for global consumers, not global citizens. The world order is not only unfair, but immoral," said Mr Correa. | |
The Pope said that "the tools to deal with the challenges of our times" could be found in the Gospel of Jesus. | |
"I've been to Ecuador several times," he added. | |
"The faith in Jesus Christ has shaped this people." | |
Pope Francis is the first leader of the Roman Catholic Church to come from South America. | Pope Francis is the first leader of the Roman Catholic Church to come from South America. |
In 2007, before becoming Pope, he told a gathering of Latin American bishops that they were living in the most unequal part of the world. | In 2007, before becoming Pope, he told a gathering of Latin American bishops that they were living in the most unequal part of the world. |
Coca leaves | |
On Wednesday Pope Francis will travel to Bolivia. | |
He has requested to chew coca leaves while in Bolivia, according to Culture Minister Marko Machicao. | |
Coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine, has been used in the Andes for thousands of years to combat altitude sickness and as a mild stimulant. | Coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine, has been used in the Andes for thousands of years to combat altitude sickness and as a mild stimulant. |
In September the Pope will travel to Cuba ahead of a trip to the US. | In September the Pope will travel to Cuba ahead of a trip to the US. |
The pontiff is credited with helping bring about last December's diplomatic thaw between the two countries. | The pontiff is credited with helping bring about last December's diplomatic thaw between the two countries. |
During his previous visit to Latin America in 2013, he addressed millions on Brazil's Copacabana Beach as part of a Catholic youth festival. |