Daniel González and Rafael Carranza

The Arizona Republic

MEXICO CITY — In a poignant and often gripping homily Saturday, Pope Francis used the occasion of an historic mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe to hammer home concerns about violence and individualism that have emerged as the political undercurrent of his visit to Mexico.

During the mass, the pope referenced the families affected by the country's on-going drug-related violence. He spoke about how, through the apparition of the Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531, God awakened hope among people even today, including “the suffering but resilient hearts of so many mothers, fathers, grandparents who have seen their children leaving, becoming lost or even being taken by criminals.”

The is the first time Mexico, which has a large devoutly Catholic population, has been visited by a pontiff who can be considered a neighbor. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mara Bergoglio, hails from Argentina. There was a brief moment of concern punctuated by gasps from worships as Francis stumbled while trying to sit down on a chair. He finally sat down and quietly prayed.

At the end of the mass, Francis blessed a golden crown that will be placed atop the basilica's image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Outside the church, several hundred people gathered to watch the service on a large screen. Despite the large crowds, Jose Carlos Garduno, 19, had hoped to sell more candles than he did.

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"We thought we were going to sell 300 more or less," he said, adding that he had sold 10. "I's been very slow."

Earlier in the day, Pope Francis called on Mexico’s elected leaders to provide basic rights to their citizens and blamed individualism as the root of the country’s most pressing challenges, including rampant corruption and ongoing drug violence.

Flanked by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, the pope addressed congressmen and women, governors and the civil and diplomatic corps in the first of three major events Saturday, the second day of his visit to Mexico.

In his introduction, the president welcomed the pontiff and said his visit meant a lot to the people. He also listed challenges his country faced — but notably made no mention of the violence and drug trafficking that has ravaged the nation. Francis, however, was keen to engage the topic.

“Each time we seek the path of privileges and benefits for the few to the detriment of the good of all, sooner or later the life of society becomes a fertile soil for corruption, drug trade, exclusion of different cultures, violence and also human trafficking, kidnapping and death, bringing suffering and slowing down development,” the pope said.

The pope, referring to himself as a “missionary of mercy and peace,” called on elected leaders to guarantee access to basic necessities for all citizens, such as affordable housing, dignified jobs, food security and safety.

Peña Nieto was elected in 2012 on a promise to crack down on his country's drug violence and boost Mexico's economy.

But a little more than three years after he was sworn in, allegations that he; his wife, first lady Angelica Rivera; and his finance minister benefited from sweetheart real-estate deals made with a government contractor before he was elected president continue to dog him even though a official inquiry absolved him of wrongdoing. Though Mexico's economic growth was a modest 2.4% last year, the government has been cutting public spending in anticipation of less tax revenue from oil companies.

In his controversial remarks, the pope seems to be tapping into the frustration many Mexicans have expressed in the past two days with pervasive government corruption and the inability of the government to bring years of drug cartel violence and crime under control. Over and over, Mexicans have said they are desperately praying that the pope's visit will bring peace to Mexico by raising the spiritual conscious of government leaders and those involved in crime and the drug trade.

One man who arrived before dawn 12 hours before the pope will say Mass described how daily tasks others take for granted are frightening. "Leaving your house to go to work is an adventure," said Raybel Paredes, 35, a chauffeur.. "You don't know if you are going to make it back alive."

Kidnappings, murders, extortions robberies and assaults are so common that most people do not leave their homes after dark, Paredes said.

After Francis' speech, he boarded his popemobile and weaved through crowds at the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square, toward the Metropolitan Cathedral to meet with Mexican bishops. There, he offered a public rebuke of infighting among bishops and urged them to tackle the problems surrounding drug trafficking in Mexico head on.

“If you have to fight, fight. If you have to tell each other off, say them. But as men, face to face,” he said. “But as men of God, pray together, … and if you crossed the line, ask for forgiveness. But be sure to maintain the unity of the episcopate.”

His advice was off script, and these off-the-cuff remarks have become somewhat of a hallmark for the pope.

Earlier, he expressed his concern for drug-related violence and urged bishops “not to underestimate the moral and antisocial challenge which the drug trade represents for Mexican society."

The pope also talked about migration for the first time in his visit, noting the millions of people who have left Mexico in search of better opportunities.

“Many of them have left behind their roots in order to brave the future, even in clandestine conditions which involve many risks,” he said. “So many families are separated, and integration into a supposedly ‘promised land’ is not always as easy as some believe."

He asked the Mexican bishops to work more closely with bishops in the United States to ease that transition for migrants and talked about the issue of abuse at the hands of priests. The issue is particularly sensitive in Mexico because of a perceived cover-up from high ranks within the church in the case of Maciel Macias, the disgraced founder of a popular religious order that faced widespread allegations of sexual abuse..

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Well before the pope made his way to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the afternoon mass, thousands of people already lined the main road, some arriving as early as 5 AM. As police officers strolled by and soldiers stood guard, the pilgrims sat on stools or stood under umbrellas offering protection from the increasingly hot sun.

The atmosphere was increasingly festive and generous. One woman offered pieces of bread from a bag and spoon full of homemade potato salad with peas. Reporters with television crews combed the crowds, spurring people to break out singing, "Se ve. Se siente. Papa esta presente." Translation: He is seen. He is felt.

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