Pope Francis

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http://cnstopstories.com/2015/05/08/vatican-releases-details-of-popes-trip-july-5-12-to-south-america/

 
Here is the pope’s itinerary as released by the Vatican. Times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses. Bolivia and Paraguay are on Eastern Daylight Time.
 
Friday, July 10 (Santa Cruz, Asuncion)

— 9:30 a.m. Visit to the Palmasola prison. Speech by pope.

— 11 a.m. Meeting with the bishops of Bolivia in Holy Cross Church.

— 12:45 p.m. Departure ceremony at Viru Viru International Airport.

— 1 p.m. Departure by plane for Asuncion, Paraguay.

— 3 p.m. Arrival at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion. Welcoming ceremony.

— 6 p.m. Courtesy visit to President Horacio Cartes at Lopez Palace.

— 6:45 p.m. Meeting with authorities and members of the diplomatic corps in the garden of Lopez Palace. Speech by pope.
 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD_lcVE2SIU

Pope Francis in Bolivia- Visit to Palmasola Reform Center
Scheduled for Jul 10, 2015
Santa Cruz de la Sierra local time: 09.20-Pope Francis visits the "Reform Center of Santa Cruz-Palmasola" where men, women and youths are imprisoned and subject to diverse correctional regimes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzg3nGtJeYg

Pope Francis in Bolivia-Farewell Ceremony 
Scheduled for Jul 10, 2015
Santa Cruz de la Sierra local time: 12.45-Farewell ceremony for Pope Francis at the end of his visit to Bolivia. The Pope continues on his Apostolic Journey to Asuncion, in Paraguay

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3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIFJwEvGFg0

Pope Francis in Paraguay-Welcome Ceremony to Paraguay
Scheduled for Jul 10, 2015

Asuncion local time: 15.00-Pope Francis arrives by plane to Asunción, in Paraguay, where he is met by the President of the country.

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/from-one-sinner-to-another-pope-asks-for-prayers-during-prison-visit-66277/

From one sinner to another, Pope asks for prayers during prison visit

Children play on a stage at the Palmasola prison in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, while Pope Francis listens to a greeting from Archbishop Juárez of Sucre, July 10, 2015. Credit: EWTN.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, Jul 10, 2015 / 09:19 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis on Friday told Bolivian inmates that he too is a sinner who has experienced the merciful love of God, and encouraged them not to fall into despair but to accept forgiveness and to sustain themselves with prayer.

“You may be asking yourselves: Who is this man standing before us?’” the Pope reflected with prisoners during his July 10 visit to Bolivia’s Palmasola Rehabilitation Center in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

“I would like to reply to that question with something absolutely certain about my own life. The man standing before you is a man who has experienced forgiveness. A man who was, and is, saved from his many sins. That is who I am.”

Pope Francis said that although he doesn’t have much more to offer them, “I want to share with you what I do have and what I love. It is Jesus, Jesus Christ, the mercy of the Father.”

Palmasola is Bolivia's largest and most overcrowded prison, which holds as many as 5,000 prisoners – and their families. Young children are allowed to live with incarcerated parents, and while the perimeter of Palmasola is secured by guards, much of the interior functions as a small town, with its own economy. An August 2013 riot in the prison, which began as a gang rivalry, killed 31 persons, including an 18 month-old child who was living there.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-places-presidential-honors-at-feet-of-our-lady-of-copacabana

Pope Places Presidential Honors at Feet of Our Lady of Copacabana
Rome,  July 10, 2015

Earlier this morning, Pope Francis celebrated a private Mass at the private residence of the Archbishop Emeritus of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the Holy Father presented two decorative honors that were conferred onto him by Bolivian president Evo Morales, to a statue of the Our Lady of Copacabana, patroness of Bolivia.

The gesture, the Press Office stated, was presented by the Pope to the Blessed Mother “so that on looking at them she will take care of this beloved people with great maternal tenderness and protect them with Him.”

Before placing the two honors on the statue, the Pope expressed his gratitude to the Bolivian people and their president, as well as explaining why he chose to leave them with Our Lady of Copacabana.

“May she always remember her people and also that from Bolivia, from her Shrine, where I would like them to be, may she remember the Successor of Peter and the whole Church, and look after her from Bolivia,” he said.

The following is a ZENIT translation of the Holy Father’s prayer to the Blessed Mother:
 

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http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/morales-calls-pope-francis-teachings-socialist-32364223

Morales Calls Pope Francis' Teachings 'Socialist'
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia — Jul 10, 2015, 3:17 PM ET

Evo Morales says he feels like he's got a good friend and ally in the highest of places in his battle for revolutionary social change and halting global warming: Pope Francis.

Bolivia's president also said Friday he thinks that what Pope Francis preaches amounts to socialism.

"I feel like the pope is the first and best politician in the world," Bolivia's president said in an interview with The Associated Press a few hours before bidding Latin America's first pope goodbye.

Francis made history on his two-day visit by apologizing before Bolivia's first indigenous president for the Catholic Church's "grave sins" in the subjugation of the Americas' native peoples in the name of God during the European conquests that began in the 15th and 16th centuries.

He also condemned, before a crowd of leftist activists invited by Morales' government for a World Summit of Social Movements, the "injustices" of a capitalist system that puts profits ahead of people and denies people basic rights of "land, lodging and labor."

Asked if the pope is a socialist, Morales said his emphasis on creating a world in which no one is excluded amounts to socialism.

"I don't know whether it's communism, but it is socialism. He's talking about community, about living in harmony."

Francis has said several times that concern for the poor and marginalized is at the center of the Gospel, but has denied he's preaching communism or any other political ideology. He's called Marxism wrong.
 

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http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/07/10/photos-pope-francis-in-bolivia/

Photos: Pope Francis in Bolivia
July 10, 2015 

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July 10, 2015 Tweets
https://twitter.com/FatherRosica

Thomas Rosica retweeted
IneSM ‏@inesanma  · 2h2 hours ago 
A lot of colour today with #PapaEnParaguay! Very interesting local dance to welcome Francis

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http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/the-latest-pope-gets-show-on-tarmac-in-paraguay/image_956c48db-ecdb-53f2-916f-13b86e1f81d0.html

The Latest: Pope gets show on tarmac in Paraguay
Victor R. Caivano | Posted: Friday, July 10, 2015 5:13 pm


Pope Francis and Paraguay's President Horacio Cartes watch a performer during the pope's welcome ceremony at Silvio Pettirossi International airport in Asuncion, Paraguay, Friday, July 10, 2015. The Paraguay government declared Friday and Saturday national holidays in honor of the pope's visit. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

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http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/07/10/the-latest-pope-offers-up-2-medals-to-madonna-in-bolivia

The Latest: Pope Francis treated to show on tarmac upon arriving in Asuncion, Paraguay
Associated Press   July 10, 2015 | 5:13 p.m. EDT

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Here are the latest developments from Pope Francis' trip to South America:
___
4:00 p.m.

Pope Francis is making a brief stop at the Buen Pastor women's prison in Paraguay, listening to 50 inmates in a choir sing a song specially prepared for him.

The prison houses 500 female inmates, many of whom are detained on drug charges.

Francis plans to rest briefly after the visit then head to the presidential palace to meet with President Horacio Cartes.
___
3:30 p.m.

Pope Francis is getting a show on the tarmac of the airport in Asuncion, Paraguay.

Upon getting off the plane, Francis sat down next to President Horacio Cartes. The two listened to a girls' choir that sang in Spanish, along with indigenous languages Guarani and Ache. A group of dancers also entertained the pope, who looked on with smiles.

When he stood up, several young girls ran up and hugged him. He received them with open arms and then gave them blessings.
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3 p.m.

Pope Francis is now in Paraguay, where he's set to spend three days for the last stop of his South America tour.

Paraguay's government has declared Friday and Saturday national holidays in honor of the pope's visit.

While in Paraguay, he will celebrate two Masses, including one in Caacupe, the center of Paraguayan spirituality. He'll also meet with President Horacio Cartes on Friday and with hundreds of local groups on Saturday.
 

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6:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5D1x1Sq7aw

Pope Francis in Paraguay-Courtesy Visit to the President and meeting with Civil Authorities 
Scheduled for Jul 11, 2015

Asuncion local time, Friday 10 July: 18.30-Pope Francis pays a courtesy visit to the President of the Country and then Meets the Authorities of the Country and the Diplomatic Corps.

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/07/11/pope_francis_address_to_paraguayan_government_authorities/1157511

Pope Francis' address to Paraguayan government authorities
11/07/2015 01:30


(Vatican Radio) On his arrival in Paraguay, Pope Francis called for the promotion of the common good and encouraged efforts to strengthen peace and democracy in the nation. He also said helping the poor and needy should be given the priority of place. The Pope's words came in an address to the Paraguayan government authorities and members of the diplomatic corps in the grounds of the presidential palace shortly after arriving in Asuncion on Friday (July 10th) on the final leg of his visit to Latin America. Please find below an English translation of the full text of the Pope’s prepared remarks:

Mr President,

Distinguished Government Authorities,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

                I offer cordial greetings to you, Mr President, and I thank you for your respectful and affectionate words of welcome in the name
of the government, the civil authorities and the beloved Paraguayan people.  I also greet the distinguished members of the diplomatic corps, and through them, I express my respect and esteem to the countries they represent.
 

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20150710/lt-pope-the-latest/?utm_hp_ref=world&ir=world

The Latest: Paraguayans say the popemobile went by too fast
July 10, 2015 10:44 PM EST | AP

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Here are the latest developments from Pope Francis' trip to South America:
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10:20 p.m.

Some Paraguayans are complaining that the driver of the popemobile had a heavy foot.

Comments are circulating on social media that the popemobile went too fast, leaving Paraguayans who had waited for hours on Asuncion streets to see Pope Francis only a fleeting glimpse of the pontiff as he sped by.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the vehicle traveled at that speed because they did not want a repeat of the delays seen in Ecuador and Bolivia, and that the Asuncion's airport was a greater distance from the presidential palace than in other cities.

9:50 p.m.

Pope Francis has received from Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes a national soccer team jersey with the name "Papa Francisco" and a white wool manta woven in the region where Jesuit missionaries worked in the South American country during the colonial era.

"Gifts without problems," said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi with a smile.

Lombardi's comment was a joking reference to the "Communist crucifix," with a carved hammer and sickle, the pope received from Bolivian President Evo Morales. That gift clearly surprised the pope and led to raised eyebrows, though Bolivian officials denied the gift was a political maneuver. It had been designed by a Jesuit activist.
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7:10 p.m.

In his opening remarks in Paraguay, Pope Francis is giving special praise to Paraguayan women.

Francis met with President Horacio Cartes in the presidential palace and expressed his "profound admiration for the role played by the women of Paraguay in those dramatic historical moments. As mothers, wives and widows, they shouldered the heaviest burdens."

Francis is referring to a war in the 1860s against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. During the War of the Triple Alliance, an estimated 60 percent of the country's population was wiped out. Those losses included the vast majority of men, who had gone off to fight, leaving women to move Paraguay forward.

When he was archbishop of Buenos Aires, the Rev. Jorge Bergoglio, as he was known then, often spoke about his admiration for Paraguayan women.
 

[grace-land]

http://cnstopstories.com/2015/05/08/vatican-releases-details-of-popes-trip-july-5-12-to-south-america/

 
Here is the pope’s itinerary as released by the Vatican. Times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses. Bolivia and Paraguay are on Eastern Daylight Time.
 
Saturday, July 11 (Asuncion)

— 8:30 a.m. Visit to the Ninos de Acosta Nu General Pediatric Hospital. Greeting by pope.

— 10:30 a.m. Mass outside the Caacupe Marian shrine. Homily by pope.

— 4:30 p.m. Meeting with representatives of civil society at the Leon Condou Stadium at St. Joseph’s School. Speech by pope.

— 6:15 p.m. Vespers with bishops, priests, deacons, religious men and women, seminarians and members of Catholic movements at Assumption Cathedral. Homily by pope.
 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFM6nPb-hBk

Pope Francis in Paraguay-Visit to Pediatric Hospital 
Scheduled for Jul 11, 2015
Asuncion local time: 08.30-Pope Francis in Paraguay-Pope Francis visits the General Pediatric Hospital “Niños de Acosta Ñu”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1gIqgrM4s0

Pope Francis in Paraguay-Holy Mass at the Marian Shrine of Caacupé 
Scheduled for Jul 11, 2015
Caacupé local time: 10.00- Pope Francis goes to the Marian Shrine of Caacupé for the celebration of Holy Mass. Upon his arrival in the churchyard of the Shrine, he receives the keys of the city from the Mayor.

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-visits-childrens-hospital-in-asuncion

Pope Francis visits Children’s Hospital in Asuncion
2015-07-11 Vatican Radio


(Vatican Radio) Francis began his first full day in Paraguay on Saturday (July 11th) by visiting the Acosta Nu Children’s Hospital in the capital, Asuncion.

Please find below the English translation of his prepared remarks for the children and the hospital staff.

Mr Director,
Dear Childen,
Members of the Staff,
Dear Friends,

                I thank you for your warm welcome. Thank you too for giving me this time to spend with you.

                Dear children, I want to ask you a question; maybe you can help me.  They tell me that you are all very intelligent, and so I want to ask you: Did Jesus ever get annoyed?  …  Do you remember when?

                If this seems like a difficult question, let me help you.  It was when they wouldn’t let the children come to him.  That is the only time in the entire Gospel of Mark when we hear that he was “annoyed” (cf. Mk 10:13-15).  We would say that he was really “ticked off”.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/07/11/pope_francis_at_mass_mary_always_stands_by_us/1157720

Pope Francis at Mass: Mary always stands by us
11/07/2015 15:37


(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Saturday (July 11th) at the Marian Shrine of Caacupé near Asuncion on the first full day of his pastoral visit to Paraguay, the third and final leg of his journey to Latin America. Caacupe is the most important pilgrimage site in Paraguay. Tens of thousands of people, including many from the Pope’s native Argentina, attended the mass held in the square outside the Basilica.

In his homily, the Pope told those present that Mary’s life testifies that God never abandons us even in moments when it might seem he is not there. He also once again had special words of praise for the women of Paraguay whom he said were able to lift up a country defeated, devastated and laid low by war.

Please find below an English translation of the Pope’s prepared remarks for the homily at the Mass:
 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5um6csbyBDY

Pope Francis in Paraguay- Meeting with Representatives of Civil Society 
Scheduled for Jul 11, 2015
Asuncion local time: 16.20-Pope Francis meets the so-called "builders of society", teachers, artists, businessmen,union officials, associations of women, farmers, aborigines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixIuNWGJG9A

Pope Francis in Paraguay-Celebration of Vespers 
Local time, Saturday 11 July: 18.00 - Pope Francis participates in Vespers with Priests, Men and Women Religious, Seminarians and Catholic Movements. Upon his arrival in the churchyard of the Cathedral, he receives the keys of the city from the Mayor.

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-visits-foundation-for-aids-victims-verbally-attacked-by-gay-rights-activist-51711/

Pope visits foundation for AIDS victims verbally attacked by gay rights activist

Asunción, Paraguay, Jul 11, 2015 / 11:32 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis modified his schedule on Saturday, July 11, deciding to include this afternoon a visit to the Saint Rafael Foundation, which cares for patients with AIDS and cancer, and which was recently verbally attacked by Paraguay's most prominent gay rights activist.

Simon Cazal, cofounder of the NGO Somosgay (WeAreGay) and principal lobbyist for the legalization of homosexual unions in Paraguay, said recently that Fr. Aldo Trento, director of the Saint Rafael Foundation, is “appalling” and “should die sooner rather than later”.

On a May 15 radio program Cazal added – without any further justification – that Fr. Trento witholds medication from patients, saying God will cure them. He also charged that the clinic is run as  “a place where people go to die.”

Regarding his possible participation in the Pope's meeting with representatives of Paraguayan civil society later this afternoon, Cazal said “it is not a priority” for the gay community “to assist the Pope.”
 

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http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/07/11/the-latest-pope-uses-peugeot-that-jp2-used-during-88-visit

The Latest: Paraguayan gay rights activist says some opposed him attending papal gathering
Associated Press  July 11, 2015 | 7:47 p.m. EDT

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Here are the latest developments from Pope Francis' trip to South America:
___

7:45 p.m.

The Paraguayan gay rights activists who attended a gathering that Pope Francis held with 1,600 members of so-called civil society says some in his own movement thought he should have skipped it.


But Simon Cazal told The Associated Press after Saturday night's event that he accepted the Paraguayan bishops' conference's invitation because he doesn't think the Catholic Church will use his attendance for publicity purposes.

Cazal is executive director of SomosGay. He noted with satisfaction Francis' statement that people's richness is in their diversity and no one should be excluded from anything.

Cazal told AP he hopes Paraguay's government is listening. He said 54 killings of transgender Paraguayans have gone uninvestigated in the past decade.

The church and the pope oppose gay marriage. To them, marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

Cazal is married to an Argentine. Their union is not recognized by Paraguay. In 2010, Argentina became the first Latin American nation to legalize same-sex marriage.