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Pope Francis will finish his Mexico tour looking straight at the U.S. border Pope Francis ends his Mexico tour praying for migrants at the U.S. border
(about 5 hours later)
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — In front of hundreds of uniformed prisoners in what was once Mexico's murder capital, Pope Francis spoke of the importance of mercy and shared humanity as a way to "break the cycle of violence and crime." CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Overlooking the flood lights and barbed wire that line the U.S. border, Pope Francis on Wednesday quietly prayed for the migrants who have died during their journeys to America, as thousands of people watched on both sides of the Rio Grande's fortified shores.
"We have already lost many decades thinking and believing that everything will be resolved by isolating, separating, incarcerating and ridding ourselves of problems, believing that these policies really solve problems," Francis said at a state prison here, where dozens of people have died from riots in recent years. "We have forgotten to focus on what must truly be our concern: people’s lives; their lives, those of their families, and those who have suffered because of this cycle of violence." In what amounted to a symbolic rebuke of America's presidential campaign rhetoric — which has included calls for mass deportations of illegal immigrants and a huge border wall — the pope prayed atop a platform that overlooked the frontier. The pontiff waved and made the sign of the cross to a crowd cheering across the river in El Paso, Tex., suggesting his concern for those transiting through danger, in Mexico and beyond.
Some of the prisoners, sitting in chairs in a courtyard under a bright morning sun, cried upon hearing the pope's words. Throughout his six-day trip here, the pope has focused on messages of compassion and mercy, in addition to his pointed criticism of corruption and the culture of violence and drug-trafficking that has plagued Mexico for years. The pope laid flowers at the foot of a giant cross that had been erected at the top of the ramp for the brief afternoon ceremony. Nearby, thousands who had come to the Juarez fairgrounds for a Mass to be said by the pope on the last day of his trip to Mexico observed a moment of silence.
"We feel profoundly blessed to be in your presence," said Edila Quintana, one of the prisoners, addressing the pope. "We are all equal before the eyes of God." Maria Mijares, a 38-year-old housewife, stood for hours behind a metal barrier under a scorching sun, waiting for the pope to speak. More than a decade ago, she was caught crossing the Rio Grande twice, she said, but her husband is an American citizen now hospitalized in Texas.
During his Juarez stop, the pope also plans to ascend a ramp overlooking the Rio Grande on Wednesday and pray for migrants who have lost their lives crossing this border. He’ll see the highways and railroads leading toward the brown hills of El Paso, and his fans — including some migrants who lived through the crossing — looking back at him from the United States. "They're denying my children the right to see their father," she said, gesturing toward El Paso. "There shouldn't be so many separated families or children without their parents."
With that stirring finale, the pope will be plunging into one of the most controversial issues in the presidential race up north: how the United States regards immigrants. The visit to Juarez, a city that represents both migration and the drug-war violence that has tormented Mexico in recent years, marked the conclusion of the pope’s six-day trip to Mexico.
From the time he stepped onto the red carpet at the Mexico City airport, Francis has offered pointed critiques of the failings in Mexico's government and society, pressing his papal finger on the country’s most sensitive wounds. In front of President Enrique Peña Nieto, whose popularity has plummeted amid conflict-of-interest scandals and atrocities linked to security forces, the pope chastised Mexico’s leaders for a culture of corruption. Before the nation’s Catholic bishops, the pope warned against social climbing and putting faith in the “chariots and horses of today’s pharaohs.” In a vast slum outside the capital, he spoke of the dangers of wealth and greed.
Many church observers say that the pope, the Argentine-born son of an Italian father, finds special importance in the immigration issue, particularly at a time when large numbers of refugees are traversing the Middle East and Europe.
The pope's visit created a festive atmosphere in this city, his face smiling from pins, T-shirts, posters and billboards that said Juarez welcomed him "with open arms." Schools and businesses were closed, and there was a heavy military and police presence. Across the border, in El Paso, thousands of people packed a football stadium to watch streaming video of the Mass. Others from El Paso crossed the border out of curiosity to see things first-hand.
"This is good for the border," Amit Ghosh, a 55-year-old owner of a computer business, said as he walked through the crowds before the Mass. "He's bringing people together. What is a two-hour Mass going to do to change millions of lives? Nothing. But he can give people hope."
[Seven key questions on immigration, and how GOP candidates answer][Seven key questions on immigration, and how GOP candidates answer]
Mexican priests say the Juarez finale is intended as an extension of the pope’s message of unity and empathy that he has delivered during his stops in Mexico and in other countries. But his remarks will also be attuned to the divisive politics taking place north of the border.
In the Republican primary race, Donald Trump and other candidates have vowed to increase border security and sharply limit the entry of Syrian refugees. Trump has threatened to ban most Muslims from visiting the United States, revoke birthright citizenship for children of unauthorized migrants, and build a multibillion-dollar wall to seal off the stream of Mexicans and Central Americans fleeing violence and poverty.In the Republican primary race, Donald Trump and other candidates have vowed to increase border security and sharply limit the entry of Syrian refugees. Trump has threatened to ban most Muslims from visiting the United States, revoke birthright citizenship for children of unauthorized migrants, and build a multibillion-dollar wall to seal off the stream of Mexicans and Central Americans fleeing violence and poverty.
The pope’s visit here is expected to be a not-so-subtle repudiation of all that. The pope’s visit here was a not-so-subtle repudiation of all that.
“The pope wanted to come to Juarez to make public the suffering of the migrants,” the Rev. Roberto Luna, a priest in Ciudad Juarez, said. “The pope says that this world is a house for everyone. He’s convinced that we should treat migrants as brothers.” “The pope wanted to come to Juarez to make public the suffering of the migrants,” said the Rev. Roberto Luna, a priest in Ciudad Juarez. “The pope says that this world is a house for everyone. He’s convinced that we should treat migrants as brothers.”
Even before he arrived, Francis was blasted by Trump, who called the pontiff “a very political person.” Speaking in a Fox Business Network interview, Trump added that he didn’t think the pope “understands the danger of the open border we have with Mexico.” Even before he arrived, Francis was blasted by Trump, who called the pontiff “a very political person.” Speaking in a Fox Business Network interview last week, Trump added that he did not think the pope “understands the danger of the open border we have with Mexico.”
“And I think Mexico got him to do it because Mexico wants to keep the border just the way it is, because they’re making a fortune and we’re losing,” Trump added.“And I think Mexico got him to do it because Mexico wants to keep the border just the way it is, because they’re making a fortune and we’re losing,” Trump added.
The Vatican responded to the growing hubbub about the pope’s visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, arguing that the pontiff wasn’t jumping into the U.S. presidential race but that his concern for migrants is a global issue.
Following Trump’s criticism, the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, responded late Tuesday saying that “the pope always talks about migration problems all around the world,” the Associated Press reported.
Lombardi added that Pope Francis also focuses on “the duties we have to solve these problems in a humane manner, of hosting those who come from other countries in search of a life of dignity and peace.”Lombardi added that Pope Francis also focuses on “the duties we have to solve these problems in a humane manner, of hosting those who come from other countries in search of a life of dignity and peace.”
Earlier in the day, the pope visited inmates at a state prison where dozens have died in riots in recent years. In that meeting, he spoke of the importance of mercy and shared humanity as a way to "break the cycle of violence and crime."
"We have already lost many decades thinking and believing that everything will be resolved by isolating, separating, incarcerating and ridding ourselves of problems, believing that these policies really solve problems," Francis said.
[At start of Mexico tour, Pope Francis addresses drug trafficking, violence][At start of Mexico tour, Pope Francis addresses drug trafficking, violence]
From the time he stepped onto the red carpet at the Mexico City airport, Pope Francis has offered pointed critiques of the failings in Mexico's government and society, pressing his papal finger on the country’s most sensitive wounds. In front of President Enrique Peña Nieto, whose popularity has plummeted amid conflict-of-interest scandals and atrocities linked to security forces, the pope chastised the country’s leaders for a culture of corruption. Before the nation’s Catholic bishops, the pope warned against social climbing and putting faith in the “chariots and horses of today’s pharaohs.” He spoke of the dangers of wealth and greed in a vast slum outside of the capital. Mexican priests and analysts said the pope delivered an important message at a time when the issues of migration and asylum have become so important.
But many church observers say that the pope, the Argentine-born son of an Italian father, finds special importance in the immigration issue, particularly at a time when large numbers of refugees are traversing the Middle East and Europe.
“The influence that the pope can have is to remind us that we are all migrants,” said the Rev. Nicolas Villanueva Arellano, a priest in the Tijuana archdiocese whose father was a resident in California. “More than building walls, we should be trying to build bridges.”“The influence that the pope can have is to remind us that we are all migrants,” said the Rev. Nicolas Villanueva Arellano, a priest in the Tijuana archdiocese whose father was a resident in California. “More than building walls, we should be trying to build bridges.”
“He’s calling us to be compassionate to people who have to move from one place to another,” Villanueva added. “They’re not doing it because they want to. Necessity obliges them.”“He’s calling us to be compassionate to people who have to move from one place to another,” Villanueva added. “They’re not doing it because they want to. Necessity obliges them.”
“For the pope, it is very important to send this message and call attention to the thousands of people [leaving home], and not just in Mexico, because it’s a situation happening across the world,” Maria Soledad Loaeza Tovar, a professor at the College of Mexico and an expert in foreign relations. “He emphasizes the theme of the marginalized, of the excluded, of those who feel isolated, who feel they’re not part of society.” “For the pope, it is very important to send this message and call attention to the thousands of people [leaving home], and not just in Mexico, because it’s a situation happening across the world,” said Maria Soledad Loaeza Tovar, a professor at the College of Mexico and an expert in foreign relations. “He emphasizes the theme of the marginalized, of the excluded, of those who feel isolated, who feel they’re not part of society.”
Juarez itself was marginalized not too many years ago. And now it is a city ripe for redemption. The number of killings in Juarez last year fell to about 300, one-tenth of the murder rate at the peak of the drug war in 2010, according to the state government. This could be the result of civic unity and police work; or because of the Sinaloa Cartel’s defeat of its rivals for control of the drug trafficking routes in this portion of border.
Either way, Juarez is relieved and ready for better days.
A visit to Juarez is “the most visible signal” of the pope’s opinion on cross-border migration, Luna said.A visit to Juarez is “the most visible signal” of the pope’s opinion on cross-border migration, Luna said.
“This pope, he creates community, hope. He brings happiness to people,” he said. “That will be his legacy in history.”“This pope, he creates community, hope. He brings happiness to people,” he said. “That will be his legacy in history.”
Martinez reported from Mexico City.Martinez reported from Mexico City.
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