Pope Francis greets crowds in Mexico

Feb 14, 2016

MEXICO CITY: Pope Francis' first visit to Mexico is well underway, with the pontiff greeting thousands of people lining the streets and stopping to bless children.

During the trip, the pontiff is expected to mix pastoral and political messages, praising the poor and marginalized while condemning drug trafficking, cartel brutality and violence against women. 

On Saturday, in a speech to President Enrique Peña Nieto, the pope reminded Mexican authorities of their duty to provide "true justice," and services to their people. 

Francis and Peña Nieto had previously met on several occasions at the Vatican, most recently in June 2014, where Peña Nieto made the invitation to visit his country and the pontiff reportedly accepted right away.

During his speeches, the pope has constantly highlighted the role of elected leaders and bureaucrats to work toward improving the lives of their citizens, especially the poor and marginalized. That issue will also come up during some of the five Masses that Pope Francis will lead in Mexico.

From the National Palace, he will ride in his popemobile across the city's main square, the Zocalo, and to the Metropolitan Cathedral, located adjacent to the government building along the square.

At the Cathedral, the seat of the influential Mexico City archdiocese, he will address bishops from all across Mexico. The Pope is expected to talk about the pastoral needs of the church; more specifically, his desire to see bishops out in the streets and among the people.

Gallery: Pope Francis visits Mexico

Following his audience with bishops, Pope Francis will travel to the Nunciature, or Vatican embassy, for a rare two-hour "break", before he continues his packed schedule with one of the highlights of his visit.

This afternoon, the pontiff will celebrate Holy Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico's beloved and deeply venerated patron saint.

This will be the pope's first time ever at the Basilica.  In the past he had spoke of his great desire to visit. The Mass is expected to last about two and a half hours and could draw as many as 2 million people, according to organizers.

During the ceremony, the pope will bless the crown that sits atop the tilma, or cloth, at the altar of the basilica as a symbol of veneration.

Tradition states that the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe ended up on that same tilma, dating back to the 16th century, when the local bishop demanded proof from an indigenous convert who claimed he had seen the apparition of the Virgin Mary, but with dark skin and dressed in traditional Aztec attire.

Worshipers and onlookers are expected to line the route, including the area near the basilica, to catch a glimpse of the pope as he travels. After the Mass, he will once again travel back to the Nunciature to settle in for the night.

The day before, late Friday evening, the Pope landed in Mexico City after a four-hour layover in Havana, Cuba for a historic meeting with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, the second largest Christian body after the Catholic Church itself.

The two leaders embraced among smiles and met privately for about two hours, the first such meeting between representatives of the two confessions in nearly one thousand years. Afterward they signed a joint declaration which calls for greater unity between the two churches, eventually leading to full reconciliation.--WFAA