Pope Francis has ended his visit to Mexico's impoverished Chiapas state after denouncing the exploitation and exclusion of indigenous people and celebrating Mass in three native languages.
The pontiff is flying back to Mexico City to spend the night. On Tuesday morning, he plans to go to the city of Morelia in the gang-plagued state of Michoacan. There he will visit the cathedral and celebrate Mass with priests, seminarians and religious men and women.
Francis used his visit to Chiapas to celebrate indigenous cultures. He also prayed before the tomb of controversial Bishop Samuel Ruiz, who ministered to Mexico's poorest and supported blending indigenous ways into Catholic rituals, much to the dismay of Mexico's church hierarchy and occasionally the Vatican.
Pope Francis warned of the presence in modern society of ideologies that seek to destroy the family called for its protection.
In a meeting with families Monday at the Manuel Reyna Stadium, the pontiff criticized ideas that promoted isolation in society and weaken the family structure.
Leaving his prepared speech, Francis said that with such ideas "we end up being colonies of ideologies that destroy the family, the family nucleus that is the healthy base of all society."
He said he understands that it is not always easy to live in a family but that it is worthwhile trying to do so.
He said: "I prefer a wounded family that strives every day to unite in love to a society sickened by closure and the comfort of fearing to love."