Faithful in Ecuador won't let Pope go to sleep!

Francis to Crowds: Hail Mary, Blessing, ‘Go to Sleep’

For 2nd Night, Large Crowds Shout 'Come Out, Pope,' at His Residence at Apostolic Nuncio in Quito

    

Ecuador, July 07, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Deborah Castellano Lubov              

 

'Go to sleep,' so the 'neighborhood can sleep' is the recommendation Pope Francis has for enthusiastic crowds who have for the past two nights gathered outside the Quito residence of the Apostolic Nuncio, where he is spending the night.
Since Francis has arrived in the Ecuadorian capital during his nine-day, three-country Apostolic Visit to Latin America, July 5-13, the Pope has responded to the many, eager faithful calling for him to come out.
Making a surprise appearance outside the residence, both Sunday and last night, the Holy Father greeted the large, loud crowd, who were singing to welcome him, and to exit and greet them.
"Come out, Pope," they were shouting, sources say.
Eventually, Pope Francis conceded, stepping out of the residence, praying a Hail Mary with them, and telling them once again to "Go to bed," so “the neighborhood can sleep.”
The next stops on the Pope's full agenda are Bolivia tomorrow, for a couple of hours due to the high altitude, and then Paraguay.
In the region which claims about 40 percent of the world's Catholics, the countries the Holy Father is visiting are very Catholic and very poor. According to Pew Research Center, the Catholics in Ecuador make up 79 percent of its population; in Bolivia, 77 percent; in Paraguay, 89 percent.