Pope heads to Mexico’s drug heartland

On his one-day trip Tuesday to the capital of troubled Michoacan state, Pope Francis will visit the cathedra…

Francis had the vehicle stop outside the gates of the residence and he got out to bless and embrace the faithful, including the ill, elderly and people with disabilities. Then, to the delight of those present, he took the microphone and spoke off the cuff, reminding them to pray for their parents and grandparents, their teachers and all those people who take care of them.

In Mexico City, he chastised bishops for being gossips obsessed with coddling wealthy patrons and failing to denounce the evils of the drug trade.

Gang wars over the methamphetamine trade have torn the western state of Michoacan apart.

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Such ideas foster isolation in society and “we end up being colonies of ideologies that destroy the family, the family nucleus that is the healthy base of all society”, the pontiff said.

“To live in a family is not always easy”.

But the day’s highlight could come in his final event, a gathering of Mexican youth.

Pope Francis also prayed before the tomb of the controversial Bishop Samuel Ruiz, who helped Mexico’s poorest and supported blending indigenous traditions into Catholic rituals.

During his Mass in Chiapas, the Pope said the indigenous people had a deep appreciation for nature and that they had much to teach the rest of the world.

Ruiz died in 2011. He was recognized as a martyr on June 22nd 2004 by Pope John Paul II and was beatified on November 20th 2005 in Mexico. Francis recently lifted the ban. Official approval for those languages is still pending.

Extra border patrol agents and security measures are in place to ensure no individuals or groups use the papal visit as a distraction to bypass the inspection process at border ports and interior checkpoints, he added.

His visit to Chiapas, the southern and poorest Mexican state was also meant to revive the religion as the number of followers has fallen significantly.

They also thank him for a Vatican decree authorizing their languages to be used for Catholic rites.

“How worthwhile it would be for each of us to examine our conscience and learn to say, ‘Forgive me!'”, the Pope continued.

Matalon will discuss Pope Francis’ visit to Ciudad Juárez Tuesday on Midday Edition.

Francis was referred to as “Tatik” on several occasions, a Tzotzil word meaning “father”.

Nuns wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at the Venustiano Carranza stadium in Morelia, Michoacan S …

The first Latin American pope – himself the son of Italians who migrated to Argentina – urged Mexicans during another mass on Sunday to build a nation where “there will be no need to emigrate in order to dream”.

“Today’s world, ravaged as it is by a throwaway culture, needs you!” he told the crowd that included many indigenous people, some in traditional dress, who gathered under clear skies at a sports complex in the mountain city of San Cristobal de las Casas.

In San Cristobal de las Casas, Francis celebrated a Mass that featured readings in native Mayan languages.

Crowds chanted “Francis friend, San Cristobal is with you” as Francis arrived.

Despite the pope’s overture, residents of Chiapas said they believe Francis was there mostly to confirm their faith, not their status as indigenous. Contributing to this story was David Agren in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

The Indian choruses praised the “pope of the poor” and also the late Samuel Ruiz, bishop of San Cristobal for 40 years, who at a certain time was strongly criticised by the Vatican for his leaning toward Liberation Theology.

Officials opened the doors at 1 a.m. ahead of the Mass, which is aimed largely at the state’s indigenous communities.

Pope Francis’ top adviser on clerical sex abuse says bishops have a “moral and ethical responsibility” to report all cases of suspected rape, molestation and other abuse to police – even where local laws…