North Texans cherish the chance to see Pope Francis in Washington

North Texans cheered Pope Francis across Washington on Wednesday, braving long lines and security for a glimpse of the pontiff in the popemobile, at Mass or on the Jumbotrons during a festive and spiritual day.

Paola Quintero-Araujo of Euless and a group of five fans of the pope from Denton County arrived at the security gates in front of the Washington Monument just before 6 a.m. to get in place for the “pope parade” more than four hours later.

“Everybody started pulling together,” said Quintero-Araujo, director of faith formation for the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth.

When an elderly woman next to them was overcome by heat, the crowd, by then pressed against the fencing, passed water bottles to help. Quintero-Araujo, who became a U.S. citizen last year, even met someone from her small town in Colombia who knew her family.

The North Texas group watched the pope’s arrival at the White House on a Jumbotron and listened to his speech on the South Lawn just a short distance away.

“What I really liked was the unity,” said Jeanette Houle of Pilot Point. “When we started praying the rosary, random people joined and we were praying in Spanish and English.”

When the pope finally appeared, waving from the popemobile — a Jeep Wrangler converted so he could stand and be seen — the crowd chanted “Fran-cis, Fran-cis” and waved flags. Besides T-shirts and posters, one of the most popular “pope swag” items sold by street vendors was the yellow-and-white flag of Vatican City with the papal emblem.

The excitement was palpable. “That’s what we came for; we came to be inspired,” Quintero-Araujo said.

The crowd included large numbers of faithful from Spanish-speaking countries attracted by the Argentina-born Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The flags of Argentina and Mexico were also a common sight.

Lisette Moreno, 31, of Dallas lined up at the Ellipse at 9 the night before to get a good view.

Having the pope pass right in front of her “was very emotional,” she said.

A “DREAMer” — someone brought to the U.S. illegally as a child who hopes to remain — Moreno will also see the pope Thursday in the House chamber as a guest of Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, when the pope speaks to a joint session of Congress.

“I’m very close to my faith,” Moreno said.

Was the all-night wait worth it? “Yes. I take this as a personal privilege.”

Heather Reynolds, CEO and president of Catholic Charities Fort Worth, was at the White House event and then at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the canonization Mass of Franciscan missionary Junipero Serra, who founded nine missions in California in the 18th century.

Asked what she had felt during the South Lawn ceremony, Reynolds said, “The energy, I think just the energy — it was exciting to be a part of.

“To hear words from him was inspirational,” Reynolds said, “the way he talks about the poor, the immigrant, the vulnerable, families. It’s such a beautiful thing.”

Reynolds said she was surprised to see former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich seated near her and ran over to get a photo with him. Gingrich converted to Catholicism.

Local bishop ‘energized’

Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson attended the pope’s speech to over 300 bishops at St. Matthew’s Cathedral before celebrating Mass with the pope and other bishops at the basilica.

The pope, speaking in Italian, said, “Harsh and divisive language does not befit the tongue of a pastor. It has no place in his heart. Although it may momentarily seem to win the day, only the enduring allure of goodness and love remains truly convincing.”

Olson said, “I felt wonderfully energized and joyful and renewed for our local mission of the Diocese of Fort Worth.”

Antonio Naim of Mission, in South Texas, said after the parade: “This pope is very different from other popes. He’s a simple man. He doesn’t care about class differences. To him we’re all equal.”

This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 7:20 PM with the headline "North Texans cherish the chance to see Pope Francis in Washington."