Pope Francis will cap his first trip to Mexico by saying Mass Feb. 17 at the US border, where he will urge support for immigrants entering the United States and, more broadly, for people living on the margins of society.
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Pope Francis delivers his homily throughout a mass after opening the Holy Door of St. John in Lateran Basilica in Rome, Sun., Dec. 13, 2015.
This will be the fourth time that Francis returns to his native America after pastoral visits to Rio de Janeiro in July 2013, Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay in July 2015, and to the USA and Cuba in September 2015.
Confirmation of Pope Francis’ plan to visit Ciudad Juarez has Catholics rejoicing all over the borderland. The choice of the town continues the pope’s focus on immigrants and other marginalized groups as one of the main issues of his papacy. The Pope’s next expected stop will be Colegio Bachilleres where he will be met by approximately 3,600 business leaders and workers.
Speaking directly to Hispanics, the Pope recognized that many immigrated “at great personal cost, in the hope of building a new life” and invited them “not be discouraged by whatever hardships you face”. It was a message he repeated throughout his visit to this country.
While returning from a trip to Africa last month, the Argentine Jorge Bergoglio spoke of his intention to visit Mexico.
The pope will arrive at the Juarez airport at 10:30 a.m. MST.
The Pope’s visit to Juarez will be fast, furious and faith-filled.
The Mass is scheduled to take place at El Punto, a large field near Benito Juarez Stadium and just a stone’s throw from the border. The El Paso diocese says the site can hold about 220,000 people.
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There could be a second mass in the making in El Paso, but Bishop Mark Seitz says the details are still being worked out.
