Pope
Francis at Quito cathedral: a pilgrim sharing the joy of the Gospel
(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.
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.
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