KHOU Staff, KHOU.com, December 12, 2015
Pope Francis will be visiting the U.S.-Mexico border as part of the final stop on his upcoming tour of Mexico in February, the Catholic Diocese of El Paso announced Saturday morning.
The papal will visit Cuidad Juarez during his final stop on Feb. 16, 2015. The visit is expected to shed a spotlight on the realities of living along both sides of the border, including the issues facing migrants and refugees fleeing the violence in their home countries.
The diocese is also working with local leaders in the El Paso/Juarez area about celebrating a Mass with Pope Francis at the border fence along Loop 375/César Chávez Highway.
Bishop Mark J. Seitz, D.D. released the following statement on Pope Francis’ visit to Juarez:
First I would like to wish everyone a happy Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas, who brings so much hope to the poor and those on the margins! I was thrilled to learn that the Holy See has chosen this very special feast day to officially announce Pope Francis’ visit to Mexico, which will conclude with a stop to Ciudad Juarez, our sister city, on Feb. 17, 2016. I wish to express my great excitement for the Mexican people to have this opportunity to welcome Pope Francis. Mexicans are well known for their special love and affection for our popes. And, we expect Pope Francis’s upcoming visit, to elicit much of this same type of affection, especially given that he is the first Latin American pope.
Secondly, we are thrilled that Pope Francis will make a stop through this border region. Bishop Jose Torres of Juarez and I, along with Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, NM enjoy a particularly close relationship as the bishops of the three dioceses located in this one metropolitan area. In spite of the borders and boundaries that exist, we see ourselves as one great Catholic community, and so we are immensely grateful and honored that our Universal Pastor, Pope Francis, has chosen to come to our area. We have many hopes for what this visit will accomplish.
Pope Francis’ visit will undoubtedly call attention to many realities that are lived on both sides of the U.S. – Mexico border, particularly the plight of so many migrants and refugees fleeing violence and poverty in their home countries, in search of better lives for themselves and their children. The Diocese of El Paso is very active in responding to the challenges of migrants and refugees, in collaboration with local U.S. immigration officials, to ensure that the most vulnerable in our midst (especially children and families) are clothed, housed, and loved. We hope that in a special way, Pope Francis’ visit to this region will give voice to these often voiceless people. And we hope that his presence here will facilitate a much-needed national dialogue that will help unite our own country around a compassionate response to the poor in our midst.
We also hope that Pope Francis’ visit to this region, like his recent visit to NYC, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., will be a great moment for the Catholic Church to showcase the beauty and depth of our faith. Pope Francis’ track record has been to generate so much passion and fervor for the faith, wherever he goes. My dream is that his visit will be especially energizing to our young people who are the hope for the future.
I have been in conversation with Bishop Torres in Juarez about this Papal Visit. The Diocese of El Paso will collaborate in two ways with Juarez when the Holy Father comes to our area: first, I am calling on all parishes to take up collections in the coming weeks to financially support the Diocese of Juarez’s expenses to host Pope Francis; secondly, I am presently in conversation with our local civic leaders about celebrating Mass with Pope Francis at the border fence along Loop 375/César Chávez Highway which will include the faithful on both sides of the border. The details of this liturgy are still being developed, and we hope to be able to communicate more information very soon.
We have a short window of time to prepare for the Pope’s visit, and I would like to thank the City of El Paso and the Catholics of our diocese for their collaboration, as we prepare for what will undoubtedly be a historic and joyous moment for our city, for our faith community, and for any pilgrims who may be traveling to our area.
Viva El Papa Francisco! Que Viva!