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Pope Francis expected to draw huge crowds in Ecuador | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Hundreds of thousands of people are gathering in the Ecuadorean port city of Guayaquil on Monday to greet Pope Francis. | |
The Pope arrived in Ecuador on Sunday on the first leg of his three-country trip to Latin America which will also take him to Bolivia and Paraguay. | |
It is his second visit to the region since becoming pontiff in 2013. | |
City officials said a million visitors had travelled to Guayaquil to see the Pope. | |
By 03:30 local time (08:30 GMT), a quarter of a million people had already gathered in Samanes park, where the pontiff will celebrate Mass on Monday. | |
'Get some rest' | |
A Vatican official estimated that half a million people lined the streets of the Ecuadorean capital, Quito, on Sunday. | |
Many also gathered in front of the Vatican Embassy in Quito, where Pope Francis stayed the night. | |
The Pope joined them for a prayer and, according to some of those present, said: "I am going to give you a blessing so that you go home and rest and let the neighbours get some sleep." | |
After landing in Quito, the Pope thanked God "for having allowed me to return to Latin America". | |
Peripheries | |
His 2013 visit to Brazil drew huge crowds of young Catholics attending the Catholic Youth Conference. A Mass on Copacabana beach was estimated to have been attended by three million people. | |
But this time the Pope chose some of the smaller and poorer countries of the region for his visit, a move which the Vatican said reflected his interest in the "peripheries". | |
Pope Francis is the first leader of the Roman Catholic Church to come from South America, but on this occasion he will not be visiting his home country of Argentina. | |
The Vatican said that he would focus on the issue of poverty and inequality. | |
"Progress and development must ensure a better future for all," he said in a speech on the Quito airport runway after he was welcomed by Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa. | |
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 | Coca leaves |
On Wednesday Pope Francis will travel to Bolivia. | On Wednesday Pope Francis will travel to Bolivia. |
He has requested to chew coca leaves while in Bolivia, according to Culture Minister Marko Machicao. | 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 to bring about last December's diplomatic thaw between the two countries. | |