Mexico awaits Pope Benedict XVI

Mexico, the World's second largest Catholic country is eager to welcome Pope Benedict on his first trip there. James Blears has been guaging opinions. Mexico is in the middle of a savage six year Drug War, which has claimed more than 50,000 lives. Many, many Mexicans are welcoming the Papal visit at this uniquely challenging time, and are longing for words of support and guidence to provide them light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Accordignly security will be very tight, including troops as well as Federal, State and Municipal Police.
Organizers expect more than a million visitors to the central State of Guanajuato, many of whom will attend a giant open air Mass on Sunday.
Mexico's population which is still predominantly young, is looking to the Pope for guidance, hope and wisdom, to help tackle a formidable range of issues and problems- the greatest of which is the challenge to law and order, from organized crime. Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, is due to welcome his holiness in the City of Leon. The vast majority of Mexicans are baptised into the Catholic Faith, but more and more are failing to attend mass regularly. It's a challenge which must be addressed during the Pope's three day stay in the country his predecessor described as: "Always loyal." Listen to the report from our correspondent in Mexico, James Blears: