Several hundred thousand pilgrims thronged to see the popular pontiff preach Monday at Los Samanes Park in Guayaquil, Ecuador, according to estimates provided by Ecuadorian officials. Waving flags from several South American nations -- including Argentina, the Pope's homeland -- the crowd cheered Francis like a native son.
Monday is the first full day of Francis' weeklong trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, three of the smallest and poorest nations in South America. In addition to the Mass, Pope Francis is expected on Monday to have tea with Ecuadorian political leaders, pray with a community of Jesuits and visit a cathedral in the capital city of Quito.
Before the Mass, the Pope visited a shrine and prayed with elderly Catholics and sick children.
