Pope wrapping up contentious, restive trip to Latin America

21/1/2018 13:15

        Pope Francis is wrapping up the most contested, violent trip of his papacy Sunday with a series of meetings with Peruvian church leaders and a final Mass at an air base in Peru's capital.
        
        The Mass is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of Peruvian faithful before his departure to Rome — a potentially stark contrast to the pontiff's sendoff from Chile, where his final homily drew thousands less than anticipated and thin crowds lined the streets to wave goodbye.
        
        Despite the thunderous welcome the pontiff has received throughout his trip to Peru, the uproar over the Catholic Church's handling of a clerical sex abuse scandal in Chile and Francis' own remarks on the case have continued to cast a shadow over the visit. All ears will be tuned in Sunday to any final words Francis might share on a crisis he had hoped to help mend in a visit to usually friendly Latin American turf.