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Pope Francis starts Latin America visit in Ecuador Pope Francis expected to draw huge crowds in Ecuador
(about 7 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. Hundreds of thousands of people are gathering in the Ecuadorean port city of Guayaquil on Monday to greet Pope Francis.
"Progress and development must ensure a better future for all," he said in a speech on the Quito airport runway. 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.
His trip will focus on the issue of poverty and inequality, the Vatican said. It is his second visit to the region since becoming pontiff in 2013.
The pontiff will also travel to Bolivia and Paraguay, but not his home country of Argentina. City officials said a million visitors had travelled to Guayaquil to see the Pope.
The Vatican said the decision not to visit the continent's larger nations reflected the Pope's interest in the "peripheries". 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.
'Unfair and immoral' 'Get some rest'
Pope Francis was welcomed at Quito airport by left-wing President Rafael Correa, a devout Catholic. A Vatican official estimated that half a million people lined the streets of the Ecuadorean capital, Quito, on Sunday.
Mr Correa criticised the immigration policies of wealthy nations. Many also gathered in front of the Vatican Embassy in Quito, where Pope Francis stayed the night.
"They are looking for global consumers, not global citizens. The world order is not only unfair, but immoral," said Mr Correa. 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."
In a brief speech, the Pope said that "the tools to deal with the challenges of our times" could be found in the Gospel of Jesus. After landing in Quito, the Pope thanked God "for having allowed me to return to Latin America".
Attention must be paid, the Pope said, "to our most vulnerable brothers and the most vulnerable minorities, which are the debt that Latin America still has". Peripheries
Pope Francis is the first leader of the Roman Catholic Church to come from South America. 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 leavesCoca 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 bring about last December's diplomatic thaw between the two countries. The pontiff is credited with helping to 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.