Pope Francis to Address Immigration, Race and Family Issues During Mexico Visit
Pope Francis is set to visit Mexico. He will reportedly talk about immigration, family issues and race, among others, and will also host a US-Mexico border Mass.
According to Catholic Online, Pope Francis is set to visit Mexico from Feb. 12 to 17, 2016. His main reason for coming is to see the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He will also go to the US border city of Ciudad Juarez and Chiapas, one of the poorest parts of Mexico.
Catholic Online cited Mariano Palacios Alcocer, Mexican ambassador to the Holy See that the people of Mexico are excited and overjoyed that the Pope is coming to Mexico. Pope Francis, an Argentine, is the first Latin American Pope, so Mexicans feel very close to him.
The US-Mexico border Mass will be held in at Benito Juarez Stadium in Ciuded Juarez, which will gather thousands of pilgrims from both countries.
The Pope’s visit to Lampedusa, as well as his continuous appeals for migrants and individuals who are trying to escape prosecution indicates that his message is about showing respect to the human dignity of emigrants and their families. Although the issue is well-noted by the Pope, Mexicans do not expect him to talk about politics.
ABC News wrote that according to Vatican officials, Pope Francis also plans to address drug trafficking and violence. The Pope wanted to cross the border during his US visit but the plan was eventually cancelled due to logistical issues.
The Pope will also visit a prison and meet with workers on the same day as the border Mass. The prison visit will show mercy to people who do not enjoy liberty. His discussion with workers will address issues related to capital, employment, production and the economy.
Juarez is a significant location for the Papal visit because one side of the Rio Grande features the most powerful economy in the world while the opposite side showcases countries that are still developing.
“We consider that the theme of migration is an issue that is in the Pope’s agenda,” Alcocer said. He added that for Mexicans, the Papal visit is purely pastoral in character and should encourage initiatives in various countries that would favor their citizens.
Another vital part of the Pope’s visit is the national meeting of families in Chiapas on Feb. 15. Families are generally broken as Mexicans migrate to the United States to look for opportunities.
More updates and details on the Mexican Papal visit are expected soon.
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