Pope Francis begins 9-day journey to South America
July 06, 2015
Pope Francis has begun a nine-day apostolic journey to Ecuador, Bolivia, and Paraguay, his ninth such journey outside Italy.
Arriving in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, on July 5, the Pontiff said, “I have come as a witness of God’s mercy and of faith in Jesus Christ.”
“For centuries that faith has shaped the identity of this people and borne much good fruit, including the outstanding figures of Saint Mariana de Jesus, Saint Miguel Febres, Saint Narcisa de Jesús and Blessed Mercedes de Jesús Molina, beatified in Guayaquil thirty years ago, during the visit of Pope Saint John Paul II,” he recalled. “These, and others like them, lived their faith with intensity and enthusiasm, and by their works of mercy they contributed in a variety of ways to improving the Ecuadorian society of their day.”
“In our own time too, we can find in the Gospel a key to meeting contemporary challenges, respecting differences, fostering dialogue and full participation, so that the growth in progress and development already registered will be strengthened and ensure a better future for everyone, with particular concern for the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters who are the debt still outstanding in Latin America,” he added.
Pope Francis continued:
In Ecuador is the point closest to outer space: it is the Chimborazo, which for that reason is called the place “closest to the sun”, the moon and the stars. We Christians identify Christ with the sun, and the moon with the Church; the moon does not have its own light, indeed if it hides from the sun it will be enveloped by darkness. The sun is Jesus Christ and if the Church moves away or hides from him, she will be in darkness and no longer able to offer witness. May the coming days make all of us ever more clearly aware of how close is the sun which “dawns upon us from on high.” May each of us be a true reflection of his light and his love.
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Further information:
- Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Francis to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay
- Pope Francis in Ecuador-Welcome ceremony (Vatican YouTube)
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