A cry for freedom

The independence
movement of Latin America was a “cry” for freedom from the peoples of the
continent who were exploited and deprived of liberties. Pope Francis’ third day in Ecuador began in
Quito’s Bicentennial Park, where he celebrated the 200 years of Latin America’s
emancipation from the yoke of “the powers that be”.

On Tuesday morning, 7 July, the Pope
had previously met with the 50 bishops of the country in the Convention Centre
for approximately an hour. In an informal and familiar setting, he responded to
their questions privately and received a statue of St Francis with wings. Immediately after the Pontiff celebrated the
Mass “for the evangelization of peoples” in the presence of many faithful and
of the President of the Republic. The park, known as “the lung of Quito”, was
opened just two years ago in 2013, on that land that was once the city’s
international airport. The same airport which welcomed John Paul II in
1985. Constructed according to the
principles of environmental sustainability, the park is a green space popular
with Quiteños.