When he emerged from the plane, a breeze whipped off his white zucchetto cap and swirled his robes, but the affable 78-year-old took it in his stride, smiling and laughing as he walked down steps to an embrace from President Rafael Correa.
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The entrees were shrimp ceviche and a chicken broth. “From the peak of Chimborazo to the Pacific coast, from the Amazon rainforest to the Galapagos Islands, may you never lose the ability to thank God for what he has done and is doing for you”, the pope said. “I have poor taste”.
It’s been 30 years since he last saw the pope, who then was simply the Rev. Jorge Mario Bergoglio and was in charge of the Jesuit order in Argentina.
As archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis paid frequent visits to the mostly Paraguayan immigration population, celebrated Mass every December 8 for the feast of Our Lady of Caacupe – Paraguay’s patroness – and even joined them in the procession that followed through the alleyways of the “villa” – short for “villas de miseria”, or “misery villages”, as the shanties here are known.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Cortes couldn’t fathom that Bergoglio remembered him, much less made a point of coming to have lunch.
The synod will be a time for the church to “deepen her spiritual discernment and consider concrete solutions to the many hard and significant challenges facing families in our time”, the pope said. “I’m really just a Mr. Nobody,”.
After the open-air Mass, Francis had lunch with a group of Jesuits at a nearby high school.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican’s chief spokesman, had fielded questions on the flight from Rome from journalists who inquired as to why Francis was not using the opportunity to also visit his native Argentina. “He said he wanted to see me and I’m amazed that he’s coming”.
In his homily, the Pope reminded the faithful that the family is a small “domestic Church”. They are like the five fingers of a hand, Francis recalled his mother replying.
Pope Francis centered his remarks on St. John’s Gospel account of the wedding at Cana, which was read during the Mass. The scene recounts Mary telling Christ that their hosts have run out of wine, to which he responds that it is not yet “his hour” – a reference to his forthcoming Passion. People waved handkerchiefs and Vatican flags. A million extra people are expected in Quito and the coastal city of Guayaquil for masses.
In his homily, Francis praised families as the nucleus of society, calling them “the nearest hospital, the first school for the young, the best home for the elderly”. Correa told the pope that his country is culturally diverse, with a mixed-race majority, as well as 14 indigenous peoples, including two nomadic groups that continue to shun contact with the outside world.
He said some people may not realize they can pray with Christians of other denominations, adding that people must do so because “all of us have received the same baptism, all of us are following the path of Jesus, we want Jesus”. “Will you promise me that?”
“How many elderly people feel left out of family celebrations, cast aside and longing each day for a little love?” he said.
A self-proclaimed “Mr. Nobody” soon will be sharing the spotlight with one of the world’s most famous people.
Cortes, who is 91 years old and a Spaniard by birth, was to spend five minutes with the pope on Monday.
Pope Francis wrapped up the first day of a three-nation South American trip after greeting tens of thousands of jubilant people who lined the streets of Quito, Ecuador.
Upon his arrival in Guayaquil, the pontiff allowed several acolytes on the tarmac to take selfies with him. He was met by Mayor Jaime Nebot, who gave him ceremonial keys to the city made from gold and silver and encrusted with topaz and pearls.
Pope Francis has landed in Guayaquil, an Ecuadorean port city where he plans to celebrate Mass in a park.
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Organizers in Paraguay expect hundreds of thousands to attend a July 11 Mass at the Caacupe Marian shrine.
