Mexico City • Pope Francis challenged Mexico's political and ecclesiastical elites Saturday to provide their people with security, justice and courageous pastoral care to confront the drug-inspired violence and corruption that are racking the country, delivering a tough-love message to Mexico's ruling classes on his first full day in the country.
The raucous welcome Francis received from cheering Mexicans who lined his motorcade route seven-deep contrasted sharply with his pointed criticism of how church and state leaders here have often failed their people, especially the poorest and most marginalized.
"Experience teaches us that each time we seek the path of privileges or benefits for a 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," he told government authorities at the presidential palace.
In a subsequent hard-hitting speech to his own bishops, Francis challenged church leaders known for their deference to Mexico's wealthy and powerful to courageously denounce the "insidious threat" posed by the drug trade and not hide behind their own privilege and careers.
He told them to be true pastors, close to their people, and to develop a coherent plan to help Mexicans "finally escape the raging waters that drown so many, either victims of the drug trade or those who stand before God with their hands drenched in blood, though with pockets filled with sordid money and their consciences deadened."
The speech was met with tepid applause, with only a handful of bishops standing in ovation.
Francis' five-day trip to Mexico is shining an uncomfortable spotlight on the church's shortcomings and the government's failure to solve entrenched social ills that plague many parts of the country: poverty, rampant drug-inspired gangland killings, extortion, disappearances of women, crooked cops and failed public services.
The grueling schedule appeared to be already taking a toll: By Saturday evening, Francis seemed tired and winded. He appeared to doze off during Mass and lost his balance and fell into a chair set up for him to pray before the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Francis, 79, has had an exhausting two days, with back-to-back public events, dozens of miles spent standing in his popemobile and a seven-hour time zone difference. In addition, Mexico City's altitude of more than 7,000 feet provides a challenge to anyone not acclimatized, perhaps more for Francis who lost part of one lung as a young man.
Francis began Saturday by meeting with President Enrique Pena Nieto at the presidential palace. He told the president and other members of government that public officials must be honest and upright and not be seduced by privilege or corruption.
Corruption permeates many aspects of Mexican society, from traffic cops and restaurant inspectors who routinely shake down citizens for bribes, to politicians and police commanders who are sometimes on the payroll of drug cartels. Even Pena Nieto's administration has been tainted by what critics call fishy real estate dealings by people close to him, including the first lady, with companies that were awarded lucrative state contracts.
Francis said political leaders have a "particular duty" to ensure their people have "indispensable" material and spiritual goods: "adequate housing, dignified employment, food, true justice, effective security, a healthy and peaceful environment."
A man holds cards of Pope Francis outside the Catholic Nunciature, where the pontiff will arrive in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. Pope Francis is arriving in Mexico on Friday for a week-long visit. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
Pope Francis, left, embraces Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill after signing a joint declaration on religious unity at the Jose Marti International airport in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The two religious leaders met for the first-ever papal meeting, a historic development in the 1,000-year schism within Christianity. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Pool)
Pope Francis, left, and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill exchange a joint declaration on religious unity at the Jose Marti International airport in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The two religious leaders met for the first-ever papal meeting, a historic development in the 1,000-year schism within Christianity. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Pool)
Women show their blanket decorated with an image of Pope Francis and the Virgin of Guadalupe where they wait along the route the pontiff will take from the airport to the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. Pope Francis is arriving Friday for a week-long visit. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Pope Francis, left, and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill exchange a joint declaration on religious unity at the Jose Marti International airport in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The two religious leaders met for the first-ever papal meeting, a historic development in the 1,000-year schism within Christianity. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Pool)
Pope Francis, left, and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill exchange a joint declaration on religious unity at the Jose Marti International airport in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The two religious leaders met for the first-ever papal meeting, a historic development in the 1,000-year schism within Christianity. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Pool)
People wait along the route that Pope Francis will take from the airport to the Catholic Nunciatura in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. Pope Francis is arriving Friday for a week-long visit. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
Women show their blanket decorated with an image of Pope Francis and the Virgin of Guadalupe where they wait along the route the pontiff will take from the airport to the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. Pope Francis is arriving Friday for a week-long visit. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Pope Francis reaches out to greet youth dressed in traditional Mexican outfits as he's escorted by Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, behind right, and first lady Angelica Rivera upon arrival to Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The pontiff is in Mexico for a week-long visit. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
ALTERNATIVE CROP OF MXEV109.- Pope Francis' skullcap flies off as he walks with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto and first lady Angelica Rivera upon arrival to Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The pontiff is in Mexico for a week-long visit. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Pope Francis arrives at the Benito Juarez International airport in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. Pope Francis has landed in the Mexican capital for his first papal visit to Mexico. He came from Havana, where he had an historic meeting with the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox church.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
ALTERNATIVE CROP OF MXEV109.- Pope Francis' skullcap flies off as he walks with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto and first lady Angelica Rivera upon arrival to Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The pontiff is in Mexico for a week-long visit. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Pope Francis waves to people from the popemobile on his route to the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission, in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The pontiff is in Mexico for a week-long visit. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Pope Francis waves to people from the popemobile on his route to the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission, in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The pontiff is in Mexico for a week-long visit. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
The faithfull wait for Pope Francis in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Francis will meet with Mexican officials and foreign ambassadors at the National Palace. The speech, which is a fixture of every papal trip, is usually the pope's most political message, and Francis is expected to touch on some of the grave problems facing Mexico stemming from drug violence, migration and poverty. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
People wait for Pope Francis in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Francis will meet with Mexican officials and foreign ambassadors at the National Palace. The speech, which is a fixture of every papal trip, is usually the pope's most political message, and Francis is expected to touch on some of the grave problems facing Mexico stemming from drug violence, migration and poverty. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
People wait along the route that Pope Francis will take to Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Francis kicks off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with speeches to the country's political and ecclesial elites, riding in on the success of his historic meeting in Cuba with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
People place a banner with the image of Pope Francis and the Virgin of Guadalupe as they wait for Francis in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Francis kicks off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with speeches to the country's political and ecclesial elites, riding in on the success of his historic meeting in Cuba with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
People wait for Pope Francis in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Francis kicks off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with speeches to the country's political and ecclesial elites, riding in on the success of his historic meeting in Cuba with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
Nuns and faithful wave to Pope Francis as he makes his way on the popemobile to Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Francis kicks off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with speeches to the country's political and ecclesial elites, riding in on the success of his historic meeting in Cuba with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. (AP Photo/Enric Marti)
Pope Francis is welcomed by Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto and first lady Angelica Rivera, upon his arrival at the Presidential palace in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Francis kicked off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with a long popemobile ride past cheering crowds on a day that will see him meet with the countrys political and church elite, and end with a silent prayer before the Virgin of Guadalupe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis, center, is welcomed by Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, center right, and his wife Angelica Rivera, center left, at the Presidential palace in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Francis kicked off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with a long popemobile ride past cheering crowds on a day that will see him meet with the countrys political and church elite, and end with a silent prayer before the Virgin of Guadalupe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis is welcomed by Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto and first lady Angelica Rivera, upon his arrival at the Presidential palace in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Francis kicked off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with a long popemobile ride past cheering crowds on a day that will see him meet with the countrys political and church elite, and end with a silent prayer before the Virgin of Guadalupe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis, center, is welcomed by Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, center right, and his wife Angelica Rivera, center left, at the Presidential palace in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Francis kicked off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with a long popemobile ride past cheering crowds on a day that will see him meet with the countrys political and church elite, and end with a silent prayer before the Virgin of Guadalupe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis meets with bishops during his visit at the National Cathedral in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Pope Francis is demanding Mexican bishops courageously challenge the "insidious threat" posed by the drug trade, saying the Catholic hierarchy must help Mexicans escape the violence and corruption plaguing their nation and not hide behind their own privilege and careers. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis, back, accompanied by Mexican Cardinal and Archbishop of Mexico City Norberto Rivera, descends from the popemobile as he arrives to the National Cathedral in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Pope Francis kicks off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with speeches to the country's political and ecclesial elites. The pontiff's five-day visit will include a very personal prayer at the Virgin of Guadalupe shrine. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Bishops and priest walk to the National Cathedral for a meeting with Pope Francis, in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Pope Francis is demanding Mexican bishops courageously challenge the "insidious threat" posed by the drug trade, saying the Catholic hierarchy must help Mexicans escape the violence and corruption plaguing their nation and not hide behind their own privilege and careers. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
A man waves his Mexican charro style sombrero as Pope Francis, aboard the popemobile arrives to the National Cathedral in Mexico City, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Pope Francis kicks off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with speeches to the country's political and ecclesial elites. The pontiff's five-day visit will include a very personal prayer at the Virgin of Guadalupe shrine. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Pope Francis dons a Mexican charro style sombrero, in Mexico City's main sqaure, the Zocalo, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Pope Francis kicks off his first trip to Mexico on Saturday with speeches to the country's political and ecclesial elites. The pontiff's five-day visit will include a very personal prayer at the Virgin of Guadalupe shrine. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
