Thousands in the crowd were from Bolivia’s indigenous majority and President Evo Morales, the country’s first indigenous leader, was in the front row.
Around the plaza, dominated by the giant bronze Christ the Redeemer statue, big-screen TVs were erected for people to watch the religious service.
– ‘As close as possible’ –
Since his election in 2013, Francis — who hails from Argentina and is also the first Jesuit pope — has indeed shown himself to have a down-to-earth air about him, and that is ringing clear in Santa Cruz.
He and several bishops are reportedly using a Burger King restaurant as their sacristy — the place where they don their vestments and make other preparations for mass.
“We want to be as close as possible to receive the blessings that he is going to bestow,” said one of the campers who waited overnight to see the pope, Nancy Camacho, her head wrapped in a thick scarf.
Francis arrived in Bolivia on Wednesday evening in the high-altitude Andean city of La Paz — more than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level.
Concerned authorities had extra oxygen tanks on hand for the pope, who lost a lung during his youth, but he was not seen using it.
He will head on Friday to Paraguay, the last stop on his tour of South America, which began in Ecuador.
– A robust pontiff –
Francis has impressed people with his stamina as he walked amid crowds, kissed people and took selfies. Some of the journalists traveling with him had to stop and take a shot of oxygen.
Bolivia is destitute — the minimum monthly wage is equivalent to about $240 a month — but has made economic progress in recent years.
Alcohol sales and musical performances have been banned throughout Bolivia during the pope’s visit, and 17,000 police and soldiers have been deployed.
All three of the countries Francis is visiting are predominantly Catholic and have been marked by a long history of poverty and inequality mostly afflicting indigenous populations.
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