The Roman Catholic church's sex abuse scandal continued to follow Francis's itinerary, after comments sparked anger in Chile.
ADVERTISEMENTThousands of people have gathered in the Peruvian capital Lima for Pope Francis's final acts of his latin American tour.
Francis led the faithful in prayer from a balcony in the city's cathederal, but if he thought the controversy surrounding pubic statements made earlier in Chile would not follow him to Peru, he was mistaken. "I hope for a message of reconciliation because our country, as many other countries, has domestic problems. Political problems and therefore we hope that the Pope's blessing can help us improve the situation in our country," said one man.
For many people Francis's visit was more improtant than any other consideration, scandal or no scandal.
"The visit's very important because he gives us peace. A lot of consolation and serenity in the face of these moments of violence and massive corruption we are going through," said one woman.
Francis has used much of the trip to attack corruption and the headlong pursuit of profit at the expense of health, safety and the environment.
But at least one roadside banner would have reminded him of the great sex abuse scandal hanging over the Cathoilc church, pairing Francis with Luis Fernando Figari, the disgraced founder of a Peru-based Catholic lay movement.