Pope presses leaders to end corruption and drug menace

church, while at least five times as many spectators gathered outside under the beating sun.

Francis had said he yearned to visit the Basilica of Guadalupe, which attracts millions of pilgrims from Latin America, to reflect silently in front of her image.

‘‘‘Don’t be afraid,’ that is what she tells me,’’ the pope said ahead of his visit.

Carrying pictures of the Virgin of Guadalupe, thousands converged on the basilica, many in family groups, some clutching coveted tickets to enter inside.

Guadalupe Nava, a 23-year-old lawyer, said the pope should ask the Virgin ‘‘to intercede for us, to put love in the hearts of those who are bad, the corrupt officials and the criminals.’’

In three years as pope, Francis has repeatedly told political leaders as well as senior church figures to do better, and earlier this month he urged Mexicans to fight against corruption and brutal drug gang violence.

Some Mexicans are looking to him to take that even further while he’s here.

The country is still reeling from the abduction and apparent massacre of 43 trainee teachers by a drug gang in league with police in late 2014.

The pope appeared to refer to them in his homily yesterday, speaking of ‘‘children leaving, becoming lost or even being taken by criminals.’’

He has also taken a stand for migrants around the world, making it a central issue of his papacy, and he will end his visit to Mexico in the notorious northern border city of Ciudad Juarez, where he will meet relatives of victims of violence.