Pope Francis receives 'hero's welcome' in South America

Pope Francis has received a hero’s welcome in Ecuador’s biggest city as he celebrated the first public Mass of his South American tour, telling hundreds of thousands of faithful their families are the bedrock of society.

In his homily, Francis praised families as the nucleus of society, calling them “the nearest hospital, the first school for the young, the best home for the elderly”. He said miracles are performed every day inside a family out of love, but sometimes the love and happiness run out.