01:21Paraguay: Pope Francis talks democracy, condemns corruption, drug trade violence
Pope Francis praised Paraguay's commitment to and progress made on building a solid and stable democratic project, while condemning violence, corruption and the drug trade at a speech in Asuncion, Friday.
He congratulated all involved in ensuring democracy has a place in the South American country, before moving on to speak about corruption. The head of the Roman Catholic Church argued that there "must be" a daily growth in the desire to "fight corruption impetuously," before adding "I know there's a strong willingness to banish" it. He then made a plea to Paraguayans to help make sure that there are "no more victims of violence, corruption or drug trade."
Earlier on Friday Francis was greeted by President of Paraguay Horacio Cartes when he touched down at the airport. The Bishop of Rome is on the third leg of his three-country tour of South America having previously visited Ecuador and Bolivia.
During his visit to Bolivia he spoke about the Church's mistreatment of the Americas' indigenous peoples at a speech in Santa Cruz in front of Bolivian President Evo Morales who had gifted the head of the Roman Catholic Church a crucifix carved into a wooden hammer and sickle in La Paz on Wednesday.
Paraguay has one of the largest Catholic populations on the continent, so turnout for the Pope's visit to the country is expected to be high, especially given reports that hundreds of thousands of Argentinians have travelled to the country to see the pontiff.
On Saturday, the Pope will hold mass in the town of Caaccupe at the shrine of the Virgin of Miracles and is set to depart for the Vatican on Sunday.
01:21Pope Francis praised Paraguay's commitment to and progress made on building a solid and stable democratic project, while condemning violence, corruption and the drug trade at a speech in Asuncion, Friday.
He congratulated all involved in ensuring democracy has a place in the South American country, before moving on to speak about corruption. The head of the Roman Catholic Church argued that there "must be" a daily growth in the desire to "fight corruption impetuously," before adding "I know there's a strong willingness to banish" it. He then made a plea to Paraguayans to help make sure that there are "no more victims of violence, corruption or drug trade."
Earlier on Friday Francis was greeted by President of Paraguay Horacio Cartes when he touched down at the airport. The Bishop of Rome is on the third leg of his three-country tour of South America having previously visited Ecuador and Bolivia.
During his visit to Bolivia he spoke about the Church's mistreatment of the Americas' indigenous peoples at a speech in Santa Cruz in front of Bolivian President Evo Morales who had gifted the head of the Roman Catholic Church a crucifix carved into a wooden hammer and sickle in La Paz on Wednesday.
Paraguay has one of the largest Catholic populations on the continent, so turnout for the Pope's visit to the country is expected to be high, especially given reports that hundreds of thousands of Argentinians have travelled to the country to see the pontiff.
On Saturday, the Pope will hold mass in the town of Caaccupe at the shrine of the Virgin of Miracles and is set to depart for the Vatican on Sunday.