Ciudad Juarez awaits Pope Francis

It’s Ciudad Juarez’s turn to host to Pope Francis.

This border city is used to making headlines for crime and violence, but it has embraced its role as the final destination in Pope Francis’ Mexican visit. Businesses will be closed and streets cleared so Pope Francis can move through the city as pilgrims try to catch a glimpse of the popular religious leader.

Everyone is welcome to come pray with Papa Francisco, including hundreds of pilgrims who arrived from small Mexican towns and Texas cities such as Fort Worth and Houston.

“Everything is calm,” said Rosa Foulks, 58, a Fort Worth resident who will be attending Wednesday’s Mass. “Juarez waits for the pope’s visit.”

Ciudad Juarez was filled with anticipation as it prepped for this headline-grabbing visit from Pope Francis. Catholics in Juarez watched on television screens Tuesday as he took a message of hope and compassion to Morelia’s youth. Merchants sold T-shirts and hats depicting Pope Francis.

People posed for pictures while standing beside a life-sized cutout of Pope Francis in Old Juarez.

Workers cleaned the city’s streets as federal police stood guard at many intersections. Along the city’s border with El Paso, a field was prepared for Wednesday’s Mass. Meanwhile, pilgrims continued to arrive. Cars with Texas license plates moved along Juarez streets — described by many as unusually quiet.

Pilgrims arrived with suitcases and their faith.

Juarez prepared for the visit from Pope Francis like a happy host welcoming a loved one. Churches opened their doors to hundreds of pilgrims who came from far and not so far to be with Pope Francis. Through connections in the Catholic Church, families in Juarez offered shelter to travelers from California, San Antonio, Dallas, Arizona and cities throughout Mexico.

“We are filled with hope,” said Aracily Lopez Flores, who worked to coordinate pilgrims with local Catholic churches in the Ciudad Juarez Diocese. “One’s heart gets emotional. Nos da ganas de llorar (We feel like crying).”

‘Very blessed’

Maru Franco traveled to the border with a group from her Arlington church, St. Matthew. The group’s nine-hour journey ended in Ciudad Juarez after they secured tickets to the papal Mass.

“I feel very blessed,” Franco said.

Alejandro Zuniga, 44, of Houston arrived with a group of immigration advocates pushing for better treatment of women immigrant workers. The activists held a new conference on the front steps of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Church in Old Juarez. Zuniga said it is important to speak for these immigrants during the pope’s visit to the border.

Pope Francis arrives at the border with a message for people to welcome the stranger, the immigrant and the refugee.

“It is important to support the dignity of mothers, sisters and daughters,” Zuniga said.

Ana Giusti, a native of Peru who lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, traveled to Juarez with friends to see Pope Francis. She stayed with several friends who found a place to stay through a friend’s sister.

“We came to see the pope,” she said while walking through Old Juarez streets lined with merchants. “We came to see all the love he brings. The blessings.”

‘Touch my heart’

Many Catholics went to church early Tuesday morning, including Foulks, who lives in North Fort Worth, but has family in Ciudad Juarez. Foulks will wake up at 4 a.m. Wednesday and walk three miles to catch a bus so she can a have good spot at the Papal Mass.

Asked how she feels about seeing Pope Francis, she broke into a grin and responded:

“Oh my God, you need to touch my heart,” Foulks said. “I can’t explain how I feel because it is something in my heart.”

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 9:29 PM with the headline "Ciudad Juarez awaits Pope Francis."