Juárez journey inspires pilgrims
JUÁREZ - Standing for hours under the sun while the heat penetrated into her skin was not a sacrifice for Maria Contreras. It was a blessing.
Like many others who spent Wednesday morning trying to get into the special papal Mass in Juárez, Contreras cried in excitement when Pope Francis passed her on his way to the site.
“El Punto,” an area just across the border from the Segundo Barrio in Downtown El Paso, was the site where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered to celebrate Mass with the pope. It was the last event in Juárez, which was the final leg of the pope’s tour in Mexico.
“It’s a miracle that I’m here,” she said. “I got lost and walked about seven kilometers to get to the entrance.”
Endless lines formed around El Punto, formerly the Juárez fairgrounds, as people raced to get into the designated areas.
Some people experienced moments of frustration while trying to get into the site, but then they would keep each other calm, and comfort each other because they had a common goal -- to see the pope, though some did not get in.
Once those who were allowed in were were inside the chain-link fence and past the security checkpoint, people scurried to find their place, but not before getting a glimpse, a photo or video of Pope Francis, who ignited the crowd as he arrived. The popemobile traveled through the crowd to the altar.
The excitement was so contagious, that for a mo- ment, many people seemed to forgot about any pain they may have been experiencing.
When the pope proceeded to pray on the ramp near the border, people relaxed and took a moment to drink water and get a quick snack. Some children sat on the dirt floor to eat a sandwich or two.
Armando and Maria Wong were elated to be at the Mass. They started their journey to Juárez on Tuesday, when they left their home in Commerce, Calif.
Without relatives or a hotel reservation in Juárez, and not knowing where they were going to stay, the Wongs were thankful that they were able to attend the Mass and, of course, see the pope.
“We came with no plan, with the desire to see the Holy Father,” Armando Wong said. “Our dream came true. It was beautiful.”
The Wongs said they felt blessed to find good people who provided them shelter and VIP tickets for the Mass.
Others, though, were not as fortunate, many crying because they were unsuccessful in trying to get near the pope.
Yalia Romero jumped the security fence trying to stop the popemobile. Instead, she was briefly detained by security guards.
Romero said she wanted the pope to bless her sister, Dayan Romero, who can’t talk or walk, but understands everything.
“Dayan was very excited about getting to see the pope,” Romero said.
After the Mass, the pope left El Punto, blessing the audience and asking them to pray for him.