Pope wows the crowds with first papal visit to Ecuador in 30 years

Pope Francis has met the President of Ecuador on the first leg of what is being dubbed his “homecoming” tour of South America.

This is the first visit by a pope to Ecuador in 30 years and hundreds of thousands have turned out to welcome the pontiff.

“I give a blessing to each one of you, for your families, and for this great people, the noble Ecuadorian people,” he said.

The pope spoke to an open-air mass attended by an estimated 800,000 people.

Many more lined nearby roads to catch a glimpse of the papal motorcade.

After Ecuador, the pope will visit Bolivia and Paraguay.