Francis’ marathon visit to Latin America shows no signs of wearing him out.
Neither the heat nor the altitudes have hindered him. Latin America is doing 78-year-old Bergoglio a whole lot of good (Andrea Tornielli, Quito, vaticaninsider, 07/ 8/2015)
He arrived on Sunday after a 13-hour journey, swapping the heat of Rome for the cool temperatures of Quito, which is located 2800 metres above sea level. On Monday he descended to sea level again, where he faced the sweltering heat of Guayaquil with humidity levels reaching 90%. Here he celebrated mass dressed in thick vestments. After lunch, he skipped his daily siesta and left early. He then ascended to a cold and rainy Quito.
In the Ecuadorian capital, he met Correa and greeted each of the President’s never-ending queue of friends and collaborators, one by one. He never missed a handshake or an embrace and was always smiley and open. He thought his day had ended with the visit to the cathedral and a blessing bestowed upon the crowds of people that had gathered to see him in the square. But one last engagement was added to his schedule: he spent some time greeted young people who had been calling to him from outside the Nunciature, preventing him from going to bed.
On Tuesday morning, he was as fresh as a flower, ready to start another very fast-paced day. The mass, the meeting with representatives of schools and universities and with members of civil society. He pronounced speeches peppered with off-the-cuff remarks, shaking an infinite number of hands and greeting an infinite number of people.
Latin America is good for Francis, who is happy to be home. Even those close to him are surprised at how well he is holding up. “Even I don’t know where I get this energy from, I didn’t have it two years ago,” the Pope confided to Fr. Federico Lombardi.
