Pope Francis leaves Rome for his first trip to Spanish-speaking Latin America Countries Ecuador,Bolivia and Paraguay Sunday July 05,2015

Pope Francis leaves Rome today Sunday July 05,2015 for his first trip to Spanish-speaking Latin America, a "homecoming" to a continent where he will champion the rights of the poor and of the planet.

Pope Francis's  trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay three of South America's poorest and smallest countries, is Francis' first abroad since his landmark encyclical "Laudato Si" issued an urgent call for defence of the environment.

Pope Francis arrives in the Ecuadorian capital Quito after a 13-hour flight from Rome, where on Saturday night he went to the Basilica of St. Mary Major to pray for the success of trip.

Pope Francis left a bouquet of flowers in the colours of the flags of the three countries.


Pope Francis first stop, Ecuador, has for several weeks been hit by anti-government demonstrators who have taken to the streets to protest against tax rises and alleged autocracy in government.

Protest leaders have called a moratorium during the duration of the pope's visit out of respect for him.

Posters and billboards, some featuring Papal quotes, have appeared all over Quito, a highland capital mixing colonial cobbled streets with modern high rises, celebrating Francis' arrival. Some Ecuadoreans are preparing to camp out at the main plaza to welcome him.

A million extra people are expected to flood into Quito and the coastal city of Guayaquil to see the Pope at large open-air masses there

From Ecuador, Pope Francis moves on to Bolivia, where he is expected to strongly defend the right of indigenous people. In Bolivia, he will also visit the notoriously violent Palmasola prison, a virtual city with its own rules.

Landlocked Paraguay, the last stop, is notorious for contraband smuggling and illicit financing. It ranks as the second-most corrupt in South American, behind Venezuela, according to non-government organization Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index. He will meet several groups of social activists in Paraguay

All 3 countries (Ecuador,Bolivia and Paraguay)the Pope is visiting are between 82 and 93%Catholic

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