Landlocked Country and Pope Francis

President Horacio Cartes: On his first day, the Argentinean pope visited the Casa del Buen Pastor women prison, where only 107 of the 295 inmates have been formally convicted, according to Germany DPA news agency, according to Deutsche Welle. A 50-woman choir sang for the pontiff during his visit to the prison. During his first hours in the landlocked country, the pontiff hailed Paraguayan women, who he said have "known terrible sufferings." "From the first days of the country independence to recent times, Paraguay has known the terrible sufferings brought on by war, fratricidal conflict, lack of freedom and contempt for human rights," Pope Francis said at the presidential palace in the capital Asuncion, after meeting with President Horacio Cartes. "As mothers, wives and widows, women shouldered the heaviest burdens; but they found a way to move their families and their country forward, instilling in new generations the hope of a better tomorrow," Francis said. The pope visit to South America has highlighted several highly-charged issues, including economic disparity, consumer culture and maritime disputes. Economic progress must be measured by the integral dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable and helpless," the pontiff said. In Asuncion, Pope Francis reiterated his calls for "economic progress" based on the "dignity of the human person." "An economic development which fails to take into account the weakest and underprivileged, is not an authentic development. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.