Hispanics plan for pope’s trip

Francis, coming to U.S., addresses issues many face.

NEW YORK — Vianel Garcia told family members they could sleep on the floor of her East Harlem hair salon when Pope Francis visits the city in September so they can try to catch a glimpse of him when he makes a stop at a school across from her business.

“My clients also want to come, but we don’t have enough space,” said the 35-year-old Dominican stylist who said she will hang a big sign on the front door welcoming the pope on Sept. 25.

Enthusiasm is growing among Hispanic Catholics in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., over Argentine-born Pope Francis’ first U.S. visit. Many are inquiring about tickets to see him during his stops in the three cities, with many planning to attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, where the pope will speak.

Some are organizing workshops at their churches about the pope’s teachings and how they apply to immigrants.

“There is this simplicity he has to tell people things like they really are,” said Alma Reyes, a 53-year-old Mexican immigrant who cleans homes and is planning to travel from New York to Philadelphia to hear the pope speak. “He speaks from the heart. He is spontaneous.”

In her Queens church, Saint Leo, Reyes is helping organize a workshop to talk about the pope’s teachings. The talks will be based on Pope Francis’ exhortation: “The Joy of the Gospel.”

“Many here are undocumented, and this encyclical letter talks about all that. The racism, the difficulties ... these are issues that affect the Hispanic community,” Reyes said.

Pope Francis’ charisma and messages resonate among Latin American immigrants. The pope has often condemned the indifference over illegal immigration and has asked governments to be more involved in helping immigrants.

According to census data, 55 million Hispanics live in the U.S., making it the nation’s largest minority group. The number of immigrants living illegally in the country is about 11 million people, about 78 percent of them Hispanic, according to the Pew Research Institute.

Pope Francis is due to arrive in Washington on Sept. 22 and then travel to New York on Sept. 24 and Philadelphia on Sept. 26.

AP Maria Rodriguez (left), Father Diego Villegas (center) and Alma Reyes are helping to organize a workshop about the pope’s teachings in advance of his U.S. trip.