Much has been made of the messages Pope Francis delivered during his visit to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay. As always, the pope made reference to local saints and historical episodes in his homilies and addresses, thrilling the locals and confusing foreigners following on television. Here’s a rundown of the some of the people and things ...read more

On Sunday, July 12, 2015, Pope Francis concluded his visit to South America with a meeting with young people in Asunción, Paraguay. Below you will find the prepared text which the Pope did not read:   Dear Young People, I am happy to be with you in this atmosphere of celebration. Happy to listen to ...read more

Following the conclusion of Holy Mass in Ñu Guazú and the words of Archbishop Edmundo Ponziano Valenzuela Mellid of Asunción, Pope Francis delivered the follow Angelus address: I thank the Archbishop of Asuncion, the Most Reverend Edmundo Ponziano Valenzuela Mellid, and the Orthodox Archbishop of South America, Tarasios, for their kind words. At the end ...read more

On Sunday morning, July 12, 2015, during his last day in Paraguay, Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass in the military airbase of Ñu Guazú, the same place Saint John Paul II canonized St. Roque Gonzalez de Santa Cruz and companions during his Apostolic Journey to Paraguay in 1988. Below you will find the full text of his homily: “The ...read more

This morning, Pope Francis left the Apostolic Nunciature and went by car to the barrio of Bañado Norte di Asunción, an area where many poor people live and where the Church and the State provide various projects of social assistance. The Pope was welcomed at the chapel of San Juan Bautista by Jesuit Fr. Ireneo ...read more

On Saturday, July 11, 2015, Pope Francis met with Paraguayan bishops, priests, seminarins and nuns for Vespers. Below you can find the full text of his address at the conclusion of vespers:  How good it is for all of us to pray Vespers together! How can we not dream of of a Church which reflects ...read more

On Saturday, July 10, 2015, Pope Francis met with members of the Civl Society of Paraguay in Asunción. Below you will find the full text of his talk: Good afternoon: I wrote this text on the basis of the questions that I received but because there are more, I will reply to these as I ...read more

Following the conclusion of Pope Francis’ morning visit to the pediatric hostipal ‘Niños de Acosta Ñu’ in Asunción, the Holy Father departed to the Marian Shrine of Caacupé to ??celebrate the Mass. Before entering the Basilica, where he was to venerate the “Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepcion de los Milagros”, he received the keys of the city ...read more

On July 11, 2105. the Pope left the Apostolic Nunciature in Asunción and went by car to the “Niños de Acosta Ñu” General Paediatric Hospital. Arriving at 8:30 a.m., he was greeted by the Hospital Director who accompanied him to the various departments of the hospital to visit some of the most seriously ill patients. During ...read more

On Friday, July 10, 2015, Pope Francis departed from Bolivia to Paraguay for the final leg of his Apostolic Journey to South America. He was greeted by Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes upon his arrival at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion. Shortly after, the Holy Father met with government authorities and diplomatic corps at Palacio ...read more