Ecuador was the first stop on Pope Francis' multi-state Latin American tour. Over 80 percent of the country is Catholic, and people traveled from across the provinces and crossed the Colombian and Peruvian borders to hear his messages of peace and unity.
The visit of Pope Francis came at a time of polarization in the country, after a month of right-wing protests over wealth redistribution bills, which were then temporarily withdrawn by the executive branch due to violence.
Upon arriving to the country on July 5, Pope Francis told President Rafael Correa that Ecuador could always count on the support of the Church.
"I thank you, Mr. President, for your words, I am thanking you for your words which are in line with my thinking, you have quoted me too often, thank you; and I wish the best for your mission, and hope that you achieve what you want for the good of your people," said Pope Francis.
The pretext for demonstrations that were accompanied by a misinformation campaign pushed forward by opposition media were a capital gains law, which sought to curb land speculation, and an inheritance tax, which would affect merely 2 percent of the population. The opposition took a break from their protests during the pope’s visit.
A national dialogue was proposed by the executive branch, which the opposition has refused to participate in. They have said they want to hear nothing of these redistributive policies. Dialogue, peace, unity, family and solidarity were major themes of Pope Francis' masses held in Guayaquil and Quito, which about 2 million people attended.
At the mass held in Quito's Bicentenario Park, Pope Francis said,"We too encounter daily a world torn apart by wars and violence. It would be facile to think that division and hatred only concern struggles between countries or groups in society. Rather, they are a manifestation of that widespread individualism which divides us and sets us against one another."
He went on to say, "There is a need to fight for inclusion at all levels, to avoid selfishness, to build communication and dialogue, to encourage collaboration."
Many citizens present for his mass at Bicentenario Park in Quito said that the messages of Pope Francis rang true to the current political situation in Ecuador.
"We hope that there is more consensus with these policies among our people and that there are no divisions. This is what we, Ecuadoreans, hope. That there aren't divisions among us, that we can try to talk through this, and enter this dialogue so that we have these just laws," member of the chorus accompanying the mass Ivan Salazar told teleSUR English.
Violence, a coup plot and constant mobilizations have been classified by analysts as being part of a larger plan of the regional opposition to destabilize the government. Chaos and a climate of uncertainty have been cause for concern of many Ecuadoreans.
Sister Maria Paulina de Jesus of the San Jose Monastery in Quito said, "The protests are honestly really horrible, very difficult for all Ecuadoreans, but dialogue is always good. We always have to engage in dialogue."
The National Dialogue for Equality and Social Justice and efforts of the government to create a more equal society are seen by some citizens as being in line with the teachings of Pope Francis.
"President Correa is working for the whole country, for us as citizens, so that everyone can have the same economic equality, and the message given by the pope is that President Correa redistribute the wealth of all Ecuadoreans,” said Yeseña Mitena Zamora, a citizen who said she listened attentively to the Bicentenario Park mass.
After Pope Francis departed to continue his tour to Bolivia and Paraguay on Wednesday, President Correa said that he values the teachings of the pontiff. He said that the wealth redistribution bills his government has proposed seek to create a more equal society, and added that it is painful to see divisions among Ecuadoreans.
President Correa told teleSUR English, "My political, economic and social thought has always been inspired in the social doctrine of the church. It is true that I stopped reading the documents when rituals and morals were more emphasized than social themes ... He speaks very clearly about very profound things, and we will continue this thought, with speed, and we will sit down for dialogue. This does not mean that we are going to try to please everyone, this means that we are going to try to process conflicts in an adequate way. Careful, sometimes my declarations are taken out of context, and they think that consensus means a bourgeois democracy where we are going to try to please everyone and do nothing. We have to confront each other, but confront each other with ideas. Not in the streets with rocks, breaking the legs of police officers."
The government announced the first results of the national dialogue the same day the opposition renewed their protests Thursday. The dialogue has been opened to all sectors of society and campesinos, indigenous, teachers, business professionals and students are some sectors which have opened themselves to debating wealth redistribution and the future of the country.
The national dialogue will continue until September 15, when the final report will be presented. Meanwhile, the opposition continues refusing to engage in dialogue or opting for peace.