A million faithful throng Paraguay town for Pope's visit

Source: Agence France-Presse

A million faithful throng Paraguay town for Pope's visit



Published1 hour ago

CAACUPE, Paraguay (AFP) - About a million worshippers packed the Paraguayan town of Caacupe on Saturday to see Pope Francis, who is wrapping up a three-country South America tour in which he has repeatedly spoken up for the poor.

The Pope, 78, paid special tribute to Paraguay's women, largely left widowed and orphaned during the War of the Triple Alliance from 1865 to 1870, which nearly decimated the male population.

"I would like especially to mention you, the women, wives and mothers of Paraguay, who at great cost and sacrifice were able to lift up a country defeated, devastated and laid low by war," Francis said. "You are keepers of the memory, the lifeblood of those who rebuilt the life, faith and dignity of your people."

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Francis, who is from Argentina, is not visiting his home country on this trip but thousands of Argentines came by bus - some on journeys lasting 50 hours - to welcome the Pope in a homecoming of sorts.

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