Pope concludes trip to South America, emphasizes Marian devotion in Paraguay

July 13, 2015

On July 10, Pope Francis arrived in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay, the nation that was the final stop of his nine-day apostolic journey to South America.

During his three days in Paraguay, the Pope celebrated two public Masses and delivered seven addresses:

• Meeting with government authorities and the diplomatic corps at López Palace on July 10, Pope Francis welcomed the steps made by the nation toward democracy, emphasized the importance of the poor and needy, and paid tribute to the role of women in Paraguayan history-- a history summarized in a recent L’Espresso column (link below).
• The following day, the Pope visited a pediatric hospital and recalled Jesus’ closeness to children. “Never hesitate to pray to him, to talk to him, to share with him your questions and your pain.”
• Celebrating Mass in front of the Marian Shrine of Caacupé, Pope Francis preached on the difficulties the Blessed Virgin Mary faced and the importance of Marian devotion in Paraguay’s history. “We contemplate her life, and we feel understood, we feel heard. We can sit down to pray with her and use a common language in the face of the countless situations we encounter each day.”
• At a meeting with representatives of civil society, the Pope encouraged young people to pray daily and listen to the wisdom of the elderly, called for a culture of encounter and honest dialogue, and also called for “true concern” for the poor as persons, “valuing them for their goodness. Valuing them, however, also means being ready to learn from them. The poor have much to teach us about humanity, goodness, and sacrifice.”
• Celebrating Vespers with Vespers with clergy, religious, seminarians, and Catholic movements at Asunción’s cathedral, the Pontiff preached about the centrality of prayer: “Liturgical prayer, in its unhurried structure, is meant to be an expression of the whole Church, the Spouse of Christ, as she strives to be ever more conformed to her Lord. Each one of us, in prayer, wants to become more like Jesus.”
• On July 12, Pope Francis visited a chapel in the slum of Bañado Norte and said the conditions there reminded him of the Holy Family in Bethlehem. “I want to urge you to continue to be missionaries, to keep spreading the faith in these streets and alleys … I commend your families to the Holy Family so that its example and its witness may continue to be a light for your path, a encouragement in times of trouble.”
• The Pontiff then celebrated an outdoor Sunday Mass attended by hundreds of thousands at Nu Guazú. “In the mentality of the Gospel,” he preached, “you do not convince people with arguments, strategies or tactics. You convince them by learning how to welcome them.”
• In his Sunday Angelus address at the conclusion of Mass, the Pope said that “as in so many other countries of Latin America, the faith of the Paraguayan people is imbued with love of the Virgin Mary … They never cease to turn with trust to Mary, mother of mercy for each and every one of her children..”
• Late in the afternoon of July 12, Pope Francis met with young people alongside a regional bay. In his prepared address, the Pontiff spoke of the importance of friendship with Christ, spiritual retreats, and playing on the “team” of Jesus rather that the Devil’s team. Vatican Radio reported that he set aside his prepared remarks in response to questions from young people and emphasized “the intimate connection between authentic liberty and responsibility,” “the nexus uniting hope and hard work,” and the importance of gratitude and the Beatitudes.

The Pope also made unscheduled visits to a women’s prison and to a center that cares for cancer and AIDS patients.

Following the meeting with youth, the Pope departed for Rome.

 

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Further information:

• Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Francis to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay
• Pope in Latin American (Vatican Radio)
• In the Country of the Matriarchs (L’Espresso)