Pope shows mass appeal in Equador visit

Pope Francis said Mass for more than half a million Ecuadoreans yesterday and hinted he wanted a major Vatican gathering this year to find ways to reach out to Catholics who feel excluded by the Church.

On the first full day of a three-nation “homecoming” trip to South America, the Argentine-born pontiff was in Ecuador’s second city Guayaquil, a steamy port sometimes referred to as the world’s “banana capital,” given its bustling fruit trade.

In line with his simple style, he rode into the city in a small silver Fiat marked with Vatican City number plates — “SCV 1” — standing for Stato della Citta del Vaticano or State of Vatican City.