North Texans among those blessed by ‘Papa Francisco’

As the sun began to set, bathing Ciudad Juarez and El Paso in gold, Pope Francis blessed hundreds of thousands of Catholics at a Mass along the Mexico-United States border, capping his historic five-day visit to Mexico.

“Go in peace and I ask you not to forget to pray for me,” the Holy Father said in Spanish.

The crowd of pilgrims cheered.

They had braved hours of desert heat to hear their cherished leader in the border city of about 1.3 million people. It was chosen as the final stop on the pope’s tour to underscore his message of compassion toward migrants at a city that is a bridge to the United States.

Hundreds of thousands of people full of hope and praise flocked here to pray with “Papa Francisco.” They wore T-shirts and hats that professed their love for the Latin American pontiff. They sang the popular Mexican song, Cielito Lindo to welcome him. They took selfies and relied on social media to share their experience — 31,076 people checked in at the International Border on Facebook during the Mass.

Worshipers listened to the Holy Father in an open-air venue that overlooked Texas and the international boundary that many immigrants cross in hopes of achieving the American Dream. Reducing the challenges immigrants face was highlighted by Pope Francis in his homily. He also acknowledged the Catholics following his Mass across the Rio Grande at El Paso’s Sun Bowl — and noted that with technology the faithful pray together even though there is a border.

“I feel strengthened with much faith and hope for a change for our city and our people,” said Norma de la Rosa, a resident of Ciudad Juarez who hopes the event will help her home city overcome its reputation for crime and violence.

In his homily, Francis called for “open hearts” and recognition that those fleeing gangland executions and extortion in their homelands are victims of the worst forms of exploitation.

“We cannot deny the humanitarian crisis which in recent years has meant the migration of thousands of people, whether by train or highway or on foot, crossing hundreds of kilometers through mountains, deserts and inhospitable zones,” he said. “They are our brothers and sisters, who are being expelled by poverty and violence, drug trafficking and organized crime.”

Francis also praised the work of activists who “are on the front lines, often risking their own lives” to help those caught up in the migration crisis. “By their very lives, they are prophets of mercy,” he said.

And then, in a pointed message, Francis added a politically charged greeting to the 30,000 people gathered in the Sun Bowl to watch the simulcast on giant TV screens.

“Thanks to the help of technology, we can pray, sing and celebrate together this merciful love which the Lord gives us, and which no frontier can prevent us from sharing,” Francis said. “Thank you, brothers and sisters of El Paso, for making us feel like one family and the same Christian community.”

North Texans in attendance

Pilgrims came from Texas cities such as Arlington, McKinney, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Many in the sea of people were from El Paso and Ciudad Juarez.

Maru Franco of Arlington said it was a dream come true.

“I feel so loved by God,” she said in Spanish. “I can’t stop crying of happiness just thinking about how much God loves me.”

The border city of about 1.3 million is somewhat of a desert city, isolated from much of the rest of Mexico. It is also a place where immigrants trying to get to the United States and those deported back to Mexico often converge.

Some compared Pope Francis’ Mexican visit to a symbolic version of the trek taken by many Central American and Mexican immigrants.

“He came from the south and up north — taking the immigrants’ route,” said Rev. Eduardo Hayen, a priest at Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Church in Old Juarez. “This is an eloquent symbol.”

Many people opened their homes to pilgrims traveling from many miles away to see the pope. The churches networked with Catholic churches throughout the world to welcome the pilgrims.

Guadalupe Murillo of McKinney said people are drawn by the pope’s simple manner.

“He is a person of the people,” she said.

Among the Texas pilgrims were North Texans who traveled about nine hours by car to see Pope Francis. Franco, a pilgrim from Arlington, traveled with friends from St. Mathew Catholic Church. Franco, Carmelita and Gabriel Castruita, Clarira Perez and Jacky Chavez documented their journey of faith on Facebook.

Franco posted a picture of the pope as he passed her along the path to the altar.

“Que emoción paso tan cerca de mi (What emotion, he was so close to me),” she posted on Facebook.

Franco was back at work Thursday morning in Arlington after driving all night following the mass.

Rosa Foulks, who lives in Fort Worth and visits Ciudad Juarez often, was also glad to experience the pope’s visit to the border city. Foulks, who attends mass every day, shared her memories on Facebook too. She watched the mass from the vantage point of a nearby stadium — which had the added advantage of having seats. She also wore an Argentinian soccer shirt, which paid homage to Pope Francis’ home country.

The morning after the mass Foulks said she was grateful to be part of a historic moment in Ciudad Juarez.

“I feel very blessed,” Foulks said.

Texas wasn’t the only state to send pilgrims. Maria Garcia arrived with a group from San Bernardino, Calif. She said her group of 30 wanted to see Pope Francis even if it meant driving 15 hours and enduring a flat tire.

“We came singing. We came praying and talking,” she said. “It’s far but the pope isn’t going to come to Juarez all the time, and that’s why we came.”

Garcia became friends with Sandra Luz Amador, a resident of Ciudad Juarez, who also attended the mass.

“He has great faith,” Amador said of Pope Francis.

Returning home

The pope’s long flight back to Rome left from Ciudad Juarez after night fell on Wednesday.

When he arrived at the airport, the pope embraced several children who ran out to meet him on the red carpet for a brief farewell ceremony.

The children were among a crowd of hundreds waving white, white-and-yellow and red flags. Security seemed overwhelmed at one point as about a half dozen children surrounded the pontiff.

The pope eventually walked to a staging point near the airliner, flanked by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and first lady Angelica Rivera. Francis waved a final goodbye to the crowd from a window as his airplane taxied away.

This report includes material from The Associated Press.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 3:36 PM with the headline "North Texans among those blessed by ‘Papa Francisco’."