Francis address business leaders, politicians in Asuncion

Within hours of his arrival in Paraguay Pope Francis called for the consolidation of democracy in this poor country of 7 million people together with ldquo unceasing efforts rdquo and ldquo a firm will rdquo to fight corruption nbsp He also insisted on the development of an economy that does

ldquo Dear Brothers and Sisters I could not leave Bolivia without seeing you rdquo Pope Francis told thousands of inmates and their families in a prison 15 km outside Santa Cruz on July 10 before leaving Bolivia and flying to Paraguay The prison of Santa Cruz-Palmasola ndash known as an ldqu

Over the last few weeks I 39 ve been talking by phone to a wide variety of prominent Catholics in California including Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta nbsp Gov Jerry Brown nbsp three local bishops and a diocesan environmental justice director a college president a resources executive

In a talk of the utmost importance that is likely to spark discussion and inspire action worldwide Pope Francis made his strongest call yet for ldquo structural change rdquo in the way the world rsquo s economy is run saying the present system ldquo runs counter to the plan of Jesus rdquo nb

Over the last few weeks I 39 ve been talking by phone to a wide variety of prominent Catholics in California including nbsp Leon Panetta nbsp Gov Jerry Brown nbsp and nbsp three local bishops getting their reactions to ldquo Laudato Si rsquo rdquo This week I 39 m posting some of their r