Several days Pope begins visit to Mexico

After the historic meeting with Russian Patriarch Kirill at the airport in Cuba Friday, Pope Francis travels straight to Mexico for a visit of several days.

In addition, the 79-year-old pope wants to visit the impoverished southeastern region of Chiapas an act against social exclusion. The trip the Pope performs next week among other things, to the border with the United States and to the troubled province of Michoacán.

After arriving in Mexico for Saturday a meeting scheduled with President Enrique Peña Nieto. In the evening, tens of thousands of worshipers expected at a Mass in the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City. After Brazil Mexico is the country with the most Catholics worldwide. More than 80 percent of the 120 million Mexicans profess the Catholic faith.