The Latest: Francis wraps up Chile visit, heads to Peru

The Latest on Pope Francis’ visit to South America (all times local):

5 p.m.

Pope Francis is en route to Peru after wrapping up a visit to neighboring Chile.

While in Chile, Francis asked forgiveness for abuses by some priests and met with survivors. He also met with members of the indigenous Mapuche community in the south, urging them to eschew political violence and calling on the Chilean government to engage its native peoples better.

The northern city of Iquique was Francis’ last stop before leaving for Peru. There, he asked Chileans to continue to welcome immigrants even as the migrant population has boomed.

One of the pope’s most memorable moments was marrying a flight attendant couple Thursday during the plane ride from Santiago to Iquique.
Francis also faced criticism for 2015 decision to appoint a bishop who had worked closely with convicted pedophile priest Fernando Karadima.

Francis said Thursday that there was no proof Bishop Juan Barros knew what Karadima was doing. Those comments were likely to attract more criticism.

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4:25 p.m.

Men, women and children from indigenous communities in Peru are making long treks through the Amazon to see Pope Francis when he visits the country.

Puerto Maldonado is a steamy rainforest city often used as a jumping point to deeper, more remote parts of the Amazon. Many like Cesar Yojaje are traveling by boat to reach it, while others are arriving on trucks and a few by plane.

Yojaje says he hopes the pontiff can be an intermediary between indigenous groups and the state in their quest to be granted formal land rights.
More than 50 ethnic groups reside in the Peruvian Amazon, which in recent years has been plagued by illegal mining that damages the delicate ecosystem.

Several thousand indigenous people are expected to greet Francis in Puerto Maldonado on Friday, where he is expected to reiterate his push to protect the Amazon.

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3:30 p.m.

Authorities in Peru say they will not permit any street protests during Pope Francis’ four-day trip to the Andean nation.Police spokeswoman Veronica Marquez says officials will not allow demonstrations because it “impacts the image of the country.”

Protesters are required to have a permit in order to demonstrate in the country.

On Wednesday a small group of women staged a topless protest in front the main cathedral in Lima, the Peruvian capital. They carried a sign accusing the pope of protecting pedophiles.