This was supposed to be a purely pastoral visit. However, Pope Francis just can't let bygones be bygones, and he is even less willing to separate the Church from politics.

He is staying true to South American tradition. Without a political anchoring, it is almost impossible to bridge the Christian faith and the struggle of daily life in the region.

Finally, this pope is using his influence to appeal to the conscience of those in positions of power. And in the three countries he has visited so far, Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, this is exactly what is needed.

Diplomatic, yet distinct

Francis isn't afraid to broach the tough topics of the past. He speaks openly of the dark era of military dictatorships that transformed South and Latin America into a mass prison in the 1970s and 1980s.

"We need laws that are formed by the spirit of pluralism and collective dialogue," he proclaimed at a meeting of politicians and social representatives in Quito. "Repression, dictatorial control and the detraction of human rights, all of which once destroyed our region, must remain in the sphere of painful memories."

It's one of the surprises typical of this pope. He actually wanted to speak about the gospels and at-risk families, but then he spontaneously goes on a tangent to talk about "a cry for freedom." In a country dominated by a tense political climate, his message is clearly a reprimand of the government.

It's hard to overstate how important these words are to the opposition in Ecuador. They are like a balm. For weeks, thousands of people have taken to the streets in Quito to protest against the politics of President Rafael Correa. They are also fighting against the restrictive media laws that were passed in 2013.

Fear and censorship

Bolivia, too, has been rife with anti-government protests and anger at the control of the media. Ahead of the papal visit, a local press organization ANP sent a letter to the archdiocese of Santa Cruz and begged Francis to address the increasing "fear and self-censorship" that the government's control of the media was disseminating.

Francis knows all too well about fear and self-censorship. His distinct words to his flock in South America reveal the Vatican's return to old ideals. The pope belongs to those who revere former Archbishop of El Salvador Oscar Romero, who fought against the military dictatorship and who felt he had to do more than offer handouts to the poor.

Ecuador's president also revered Romero, who was beatified earlier this year - 35 years after he was murdered. It must hurt Correa all the more for "his" pope to visit the country and remind politicians of a statesman's duties of dialogue and tolerance.

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