Hundreds of people, wrapped in blankets, braved a chilly night to secure the best spots, singing folk songs and holding pictures of Mexico's patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe. Some 400 people were treated for hypothermia during the night, Mexico's Televisa said. The pope, who had looked tired on his arrival in Mexico on Friday, appeared happy as he blessed the cheering crowd from his trademark popemobile after arriving by helicopter. Raising his voice, the pope defended the rights of unborn children. Thousands stood and applauded in response, including a number of bishops and archbishops flanking the pope.
Abortion is illegal in Mexico, but the government promotes a strong family planning program.
The pope's trip to the Americas, his fourth to Mexico and fifth to the United States, is part of a process linked to a report by American bishops that maps out a vision for the Roman Catholic Church in the Americas for the new millennium. The pope on Saturday condemned human rights abuses, violence and drug trafficking and insisted the death penalty was no longer needed. He also inveighed against the burden of external debt crippling poor nations and urged rich countries and international financial organizations to use the dawn of the new millennium to find ways to alleviate the burden. On Saturday, John Paul celebrated Mass at what is considered Mexico's holiest site, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and met with President Ernesto Zedillo. He meets Tuesday with U.S. President Bill Clinton in St. Louis, Missouri.