Pope: Fear of migration is making us crazy

Pope Francis said yesterday that fear of migration is ‘‘making us crazy’’ as he began a trip to Central America amid a standoff over President Donald Trump’s promised wall at the US-Mexico border and a new caravan migrants heading north.

Francis was asked by reporters about the proposed border wall yesterday on the way to Panama, where he is looking to leave the sex abuse scandals buffeting his papacy behind. of

Francis responded: ‘‘It is the fear that makes us crazy.’’

The pontiff’s plane touched down in Panama City in the afternoon and he was met by President Juan Carlos Varela and first lady Lorena Castillo, who escorted him along a red carpet laid on the tarmac.

Spectators waved Panamanian flags in greeting and shouted, ‘‘This is the youth of the pope!’’ After a brief welcoming ceremony, he was driven away from the airport and did not have any more activities scheduled for the evening.

Francis landed as Venezuela’s protracted political crisis flared up. The Vatican had said previously that the pope would refrain from making explicit reference to Venezuela while in Panama, but the developments ensured he would face questions about the South American nation during the trip.