One of the fundamental stops of the pope's visit to Cartagena was the sanctuary of St. Peter Claver, the Spanish Jesuit who was canonized in the 19th century by Pope Leon XIII.
He was one of the defenders of slave rights, the 'slave of the [African] slaves' who were arriving to the 'New World.'
Minutes before, during the prayer of Angelus, Pope Francis reminded everyone that the saint 'had formidably demonstrated the responsibility and interest that each one of us should show our brothers and sisters. This saint was unfairly accused by his peers of being indiscreetly zealous and he had to face hard criticism and persistent opposition from those who feared his ministry undermined the lucrative slave trade.'
