1M amass for the pope

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador — More than 1 million people filled a park in Ecuador’s main port city on Monday for Pope Francis’ first big event of his threenation South American tour, hoping for a glimpse of Latin America’s first pope returning to his home soil for a Mass.

Many pilgrims spent the night outdoors, and some walked for miles to reach the park on Guayaquil’s northern outskirts, where the crowd sought pockets of shade to keep cool amid the scorching sun.

“I’m tired. I’m hungry, I haven’t slept, but I’m also full of emotion and joy in my heart,” said Vicente Huilcatoma, a 47yearold retired police officer who walked 25 miles to reach Samanes Park.

More than 1 million people turned out for the Mass held by the Argentineborn pontiff. Ecuador’s population is about 15 million.