I have been on all the foreign trips Francis has made since becoming pope, but his visit in July to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay revealed new dimensions of the man and the impact of his ministry.“We love people, not concepts or ideas,” he declared during a Mass in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. T

ldquo I believe the pope rsquo s visit has the potential to help us continue to pursue what makes this country great a concern for others a willingness to help others and a commitment to tackle tough problems rdquo That is what the new archbishop of Santa Fe John Wester said when I asked him

Pope Francis acknowledged that he has not given sufficient attention to the middle class when he speaks about the world rsquo s economy but instead has focused much on the polarization between the rich and the poor and the throw-away culture He said he has ldquo erred rdquo in not thinking more

Asuncion ldquo A faith without solidarity is a weak faith a sick faith a dead faith rdquo nbsp Pope Francis told thousands of shanty town dwellers when he visited them in their settlements in the wetlands of Banado Norte on the last day of his visit in here ldquo I have looked forward to be

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

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

Immediately after arriving at La Paz the capital of Bolivia on July 8 Pope Francis spoke of the great challenges facing this country today and declared that ldquo Bolivia is at a historic crossroads rdquo and ldquo Now is the time for Integration rdquo Though he spent less than four hours in

Francis wants to implement and develop the teaching of Vatican II on collegiality.