(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday spent lunch with his brother Jesuits on Monday in Guayaquil, Ecuador. One of the highlights was the birthday celebration of one of his collaborators.
Listen to our report:
“What a beautiful thing to celebrate your birthday” read the Tuesday-morning message on Twitter by Father Antonio Spadaro, SJ, the editor of the Rome-based Jesuit weekly, La Civiltà Cattolica. The pictures attached to the tweet showed why this, his 49th birthday, was so special. Pope Francis, along with around 20 other Jesuits, congratulating him, and sharing some hazelnut cream cake, on which the Holy Father insisted on having a candle. Pope Francis joked that he had forgotten his birthday, and had not brought a gift.
Pope Francis met with the Jesuits for over an hour, and the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, said the meeting and lunch were “informal” and held in a “familial atmosphere.”
Pope Francis also held a brief, private meeting with the 90-year-old Father Francisco Cortes – better known as “Padre Paquito” – who served at the Colegio Javier, where many Argentinian Jesuits studied for the priesthood.
(from Vatican Radio)…
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…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis visited the metropolitan cathedral of Quito, Ecuador, on Monday, the second day of his Apostolic Voyage to Latin America. The visit to the cathedral followed a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, and included some remarks to the faithful, a small number of whom were gathered inside the church proper, and a great throng of whom were gathered outside in the cathedral square.
Click below to hear our report
The cathedral itself is a remarkable structure: originally constructed of adobe and thatch, it was rebuilt beginning in the middle of the 16th century in order to fill its new role as the central place of worship and seat of the bishop of the new diocese. Using stone carried from Mount Pichincha, in the shadow of which stands the city of Quito, the cathedral was built over three years, starting in 1562, and was finally consecrated in 1572. Earthquakes have several times caused major damage, after which major repair and renovation projects have followed, with the present visible structure being primarily work completed in the latter half of the 18th century.
Emerging from the cathedral after a moment of prayerful recollection before a statue of Our Lady holding the infant Jesus, and another of silent adoration before Our Eucharistic Lord in the Tabernacle, Pope Francis greeted the crowd in the square and offered his blessing. “I’m going to give the blessing,” he said, “I’ll give the blessing to each of you, for your families, for all loved ones and for this great nation and noble Ecuadorean people, that there be no difference, no exclusion, no people discarded, that all might be brothers and sisters, a blessing that goes to everyone and that there be none left out of this great Ecuadorian nation. To each of you, your families, goes the blessing, but first let us pray together a Hail Mary.”
And the people prayed the great prayer of Marian devotion, and Pope Francis blessed them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and then he asked the people to pray for him, and he bade them good evening, and took his leave.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis visited the metropolitan cathedral of Quito, Ecuador, on Monday, the second day of his Apostolic Voyage to Latin America. The visit to the cathedral followed a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, and included some remarks to the faithful, a small number of whom were gathered inside the church proper, and a great throng of whom were gathered outside in the cathedral square.
Click below to hear our report
The cathedral itself is a remarkable structure: originally constructed of adobe and thatch, it was rebuilt beginning in the middle of the 16th century in order to fill its new role as the central place of worship and seat of the bishop of the new diocese. Using stone carried from Mount Pichincha, in the shadow of which stands the city of Quito, the cathedral was built over three years, starting in 1562, and was finally consecrated in 1572. Earthquakes have several times caused major damage, after which major repair and renovation projects have followed, with the present visible structure being primarily work completed in the latter half of the 18th century.
Emerging from the cathedral after a moment of prayerful recollection before a statue of Our Lady holding the infant Jesus, and another of silent adoration before Our Eucharistic Lord in the Tabernacle, Pope Francis greeted the crowd in the square and offered his blessing. “I’m going to give the blessing,” he said, “I’ll give the blessing to each of you, for your families, for all loved ones and for this great nation and noble Ecuadorean people, that there be no difference, no exclusion, no people discarded, that all might be brothers and sisters, a blessing that goes to everyone and that there be none left out of this great Ecuadorian nation. To each of you, your families, goes the blessing, but first let us pray together a Hail Mary.”
And the people prayed the great prayer of Marian devotion, and Pope Francis blessed them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and then he asked the people to pray for him, and he bade them good evening, and took his leave.
(from Vatican Radio)…
Pope Francis arrived in Ecuador’s capital Quito on Sunday 5th of July. It marked a homecoming for this Argentinian Pontiff who’s currently on the first leg of an Apostolic Journey to Latin America which also takes him to two other nations Bolivia and Paraguay.
On his first full day in Ecuador Pope Francis flew to Guayaquil, the nation’s major port city with stunning views over the Pacific Ocean. The city lies roughly 265 kilometres from Quito.
Veronica Scarisbrick reports :
It was to the cries of welcome ‘Francisco, Francisco’ that upon his arrival in Guayaquil a beaming Pope Francis stopped by at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy.The atmosphere was warm and joyful and there was singing. And there were dancers in the local blue and white traditional costumes at this modern designer building which can hold up to 2.300 faithful and has in its grounds, lodging facilities for priests, an old age home and areas dedicated to recreation, catechesis and evangelisation. And of course there was prayer…
Guayaquil has an overwhelming Catholic population and takes its name from the Indios chief “Guayas” and his wife” Quil”. Legendary heroes who may have led the indigenous resistance from the Spanish ‘Conquistadores’ but whose descendants have nevertheless kept the faith implanted there by the Spaniards.
Fitting then that the Holy Mass which will be presided over by Pope Francis shortly after the visit to the National Shrine, in this city which takes its name from a couple, should be dedicated to the family. And families were numerous among the thousands who filled up the venue for the mass, already up to eight hours before the celebration. A mass scheduled at a park by the name of ‘Los Samanes de Guayaquil’.
Fitting too that this Pope who belongs to the Society of Jesus plans to fleetingly visit the Jesuit College there following Holy Mass. Let’s recall for a moment the special evangelising mission the Jesuits have played throughout Latin America and their role in helping the indigenous people to safeguard their rights and culture in the face of the Spanish oppressor of the time.
But the pope’s first full day in Ecuador doesn’t end here. He returns to Quito in time for tea, ‘mate’ the local drink perhaps is a better word, for another two major appointments: a courtesy visit to the nation’s President Mr Rafael Correa, and a visit to the City’s Cathedral where he’ll address the faithful gathered in the Square outside.
(from Vatican Radio)…