The Pope's second day in Ecuador - From the Andes to the Pacific

From Quito to Guayaquil
and back. From the Andean highlands to the Pacific
coast, experiencing a strong temperature change and even some rain, Monday, 6
July, the Pope's second day in Ecuador was extremely long and very demanding in
every respect.

And the locals did not fail to support
the Pope with impressive displays of affection. At every turn, there were
streams of people who had taken to the streets to show their love and
gratitude. Millions of Ecuadorians manned the intersections waiting for a
chance to see the popemobile, welcoming him to their home country like one of
their own.

Francis visited the coastal city of Guayaquil in the
morning. It is from this city that masses of people leave for the Galápagos
islands. But this is not the reason for the city's historical importance,
rather Guayaquil was essential to Latin America's independence. It is not,
however, exempt from the evils of the continent, as witnessed by the many slums
where many humble families live in small wooden and bamboo huts with tin roofs.
It was here that, in 1985, John Paul II visited this periphery, which looks
similar to the villas miserias in Argentina.

The popemobile reached the park where he celebrated Mass
for the family in the presence of at least one million faithful, many of who
had camped out overnight. For this occasion the Holy Father used a wooden
staff, a copy of the one he used during his visit to the Holy Land in May 2014
which was made by prisoners at detention facility in Sanremo. The original
staff, very dear to the Pope, was damaged during that previous visit and thus
an exact replica was made with olive wood from Bethlehem for him to use in
Guayaquil.

Rhythms of the traditional music, dancing, arms waving
coloured banners all accompanied the celebration of Mass, recalling the simple
joy of Ecuadorians. It was with this same atmosphere that the Pope had lunch
with the Jesuit community at Javier College in
Guayaquil. Among the Jesuits present was the elderly father Francisco
Cortés, known as “Padre Paquito”. Walking with a cane, the Spanish priest, who
will soon turn 91, has lived for 50 years in Ecuador working as a missionary,
and now dedicates his time to hearing confessions. The Pope met with Fr
Cortés privately and sat beside him at
lunch, recalling their friendship long ago. When Bergoglio was not yet the
Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he chose to send his students to Javier College for
formation and they were always welcomed by the vice rector, Padre Paquito.

Gianluca Biccini

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