Returning by plane from Guayaquil to Quito, at 6:15pm local time, the Holy Father, Pope Francis then travelled by car to the Carondelet Presidential Palace for a courtesy visit with the President of the Republic of Ecuador, His Excellency, Rafael Correa.
During the private meeting between the Pope and the President, gifts were exchanged in the presence of the Cardinal Secretary of State and the Chancellor, and then the members of the President's family, other governmental authorities and the Papal party were introduced to one another.
Following the meeting with the President at the Carondelet Palace, Pope Francis travelled on foot to the nearby Cathedral. There, he was welcomed by the Rector and entered for a moment of private prayer before the Blessed Sacrament before greeting the sick who were also gathered there.
His Holiness then exited the Cathedral and from the steps outside the main doors, he blessed the crowd that awaited him in the Great Square. Leaving aside the prepared text, published below, the Holy Father spoke impromptu greetings to those who were gathered.
I give my blessing to each one of you, to your families, to all your loved ones and to the great and noble Ecuadorian people, so that there may be no more difference, no more exclusion, so that no one is discarded, so that all may be brothers, so that everyone is included and no one is left out of this great Ecuadorian nation. To every one of you and your families, I give my blessing.
But first, let us pray the Hail Mary together.
And please, I ask you to pray for me. Good night, and see you tomorrow.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I have come to Quito as a pilgrim, to share with you the joy of spreading the Gospel. When I left the Vatican, I passed the statue of Saint Mariana de Jesús, who from the apse of Saint Peter’s Basilica keeps watch over the little street which the Pope travels so often. I entrusted to her the fruits of this visit, and I prayed that all of us might learn from her example. Her sacrifice and her heroic virtue are usually represented by a flower, a lily. Yet, at Saint Peter’s she holds a whole bouquet of flowers. Along with her own flower, she offers the Lord, in the heart of the Church, your flowers, and the flowers of all the people of Ecuador.
The Saints call us to imitate them and to learn from them. This was the case with Saint Narcisa de Jesús and Blessed Mercedes de Jesús Molina, who were challenged by Saint Mariana’s example. How many of you here today have known what it is to be orphaned? How many of you have had to assume the responsibility of looking after younger brothers or sisters, despite being young yourselves? How many of you care daily with great patience for the sick or the elderly? Mariana did just this, and Narcisa and Mercedes followed her example. It is not difficult if God is with us. They accomplished no great feats in the eyes of the world. They simply loved much, and they showed this love in their daily lives, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others, in his people (cf Evangelii Gaudium, 24). Nor did they do this alone, they did it side by side with others. All the work that went into the building of this Cathedral was done that same way, our way, the way of the native peoples, quietly and unassumingly working alongside one another for the good of the community, without seeking credit or applause. God grant that, just as the stones of this cathedral were carried by those who went before us, we may carry one another’s burdens, and thus help to build up or heal the lives of so many of our brothers and sisters incapable of doing it by themselves.
Today I am here with you, and you have shared with me the joy which fills your hearts: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings (Is 52:7). This is the beauty we are called to spread, like an aroma of Christ: our prayer, our good works, and our sacrifices for those most in need. This is the joy of evangelizing and blessed are you if you do these things (Jn 13:17).
God bless you all!
During the private meeting between the Pope and the President, gifts were exchanged in the presence of the Cardinal Secretary of State and the Chancellor, and then the members of the President's family, other governmental authorities and the Papal party were introduced to one another.
Following the meeting with the President at the Carondelet Palace, Pope Francis travelled on foot to the nearby Cathedral. There, he was welcomed by the Rector and entered for a moment of private prayer before the Blessed Sacrament before greeting the sick who were also gathered there.
His Holiness then exited the Cathedral and from the steps outside the main doors, he blessed the crowd that awaited him in the Great Square. Leaving aside the prepared text, published below, the Holy Father spoke impromptu greetings to those who were gathered.
Impromptu greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
spoken to the crowds outside the Cathedral of Quito
But first, let us pray the Hail Mary together.
Prepared Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for crowds outside the Cathedral of Quito
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I have come to Quito as a pilgrim, to share with you the joy of spreading the Gospel. When I left the Vatican, I passed the statue of Saint Mariana de Jesús, who from the apse of Saint Peter’s Basilica keeps watch over the little street which the Pope travels so often. I entrusted to her the fruits of this visit, and I prayed that all of us might learn from her example. Her sacrifice and her heroic virtue are usually represented by a flower, a lily. Yet, at Saint Peter’s she holds a whole bouquet of flowers. Along with her own flower, she offers the Lord, in the heart of the Church, your flowers, and the flowers of all the people of Ecuador.
The Saints call us to imitate them and to learn from them. This was the case with Saint Narcisa de Jesús and Blessed Mercedes de Jesús Molina, who were challenged by Saint Mariana’s example. How many of you here today have known what it is to be orphaned? How many of you have had to assume the responsibility of looking after younger brothers or sisters, despite being young yourselves? How many of you care daily with great patience for the sick or the elderly? Mariana did just this, and Narcisa and Mercedes followed her example. It is not difficult if God is with us. They accomplished no great feats in the eyes of the world. They simply loved much, and they showed this love in their daily lives, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others, in his people (cf Evangelii Gaudium, 24). Nor did they do this alone, they did it side by side with others. All the work that went into the building of this Cathedral was done that same way, our way, the way of the native peoples, quietly and unassumingly working alongside one another for the good of the community, without seeking credit or applause. God grant that, just as the stones of this cathedral were carried by those who went before us, we may carry one another’s burdens, and thus help to build up or heal the lives of so many of our brothers and sisters incapable of doing it by themselves.
Today I am here with you, and you have shared with me the joy which fills your hearts: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings (Is 52:7). This is the beauty we are called to spread, like an aroma of Christ: our prayer, our good works, and our sacrifices for those most in need. This is the joy of evangelizing and blessed are you if you do these things (Jn 13:17).
God bless you all!
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