Pope's Visit (FEBRUARY 17, 2016)
A Reflection-Pope's francis visit to Cd. Juarez
-by faculty MEMBER rachel pineda
Seeing the multitudes lining the streets in Cd. Juarez on Wednesday, February 17. 2016, to get a glimpse of the Pope and reading about the 250,000 plus gathered at “El Punto” to celebrate the Mass, one is amazed and is provoked to ask the question: why do so many people want to see the Pope? Is it because innately we are all attracted to goodness and holiness? Is it because we are all ready to hear about love and hope being proclaimed by one who represents Christ in the world? Is there so much oppression in the world that we hunger for a word of acceptance and love? Does the poverty in our lives, (which includes those who live well) impel us to seek the Good News?
I think all of us want to know what it means to be human and when we hear the Pope speak and act in humble ways (taking care of the poor, visiting the prisoner, loving the children, etc.), it awakens something in our heart and soul to become more real as we journey in this world. There is a lot of oppression and suffering in the world and the Pope’s message of mercy and love finds a special place in our hearts where we desire to be the men and women God intended us to be. The Pope makes himself one with the people as expressed in the expressions of the people: “Francisco, mi hermano, Ya eres Mejicano.”
Another message that has stayed with me is his call to the young people to dream and not to lose hope. In my experience growing up in poverty, I remember having dreams of going to college even though three older brothers had dropped out of school around the 8th grade. Now that I am in my eighties, I often think of a gracious God that gave me the passion to follow my dreams. I remember distinctly when my Father left me on the college campus and told me that if I didn’t make it in college, I could go home and everything would be all right. Being of a Hispanic culture of that era, one did not oppose one’s parents opinions; however, inside of me, I said to myself, I will never go home; I will die trying but I will not go home. I give all the credit to the Holy Spirit; there is no other explanation.
Finally, I was quite impressed with the ceremony (La despedida) at the airport as the Pope was returning to Rome. After all the dignitaries, both governmental and ecclesial, said good-by to the Pope, with all the people behind the railings waving their yellow flags, the colorful dancers and the mariachis took their turns. The women dancers, standing next to their partners, swayed their beautiful skirts back and forth, symbolic of a farewell gesture. The mariachis were all lined up a short distance from where the Pope had climbed the steps to enter the plane and started playing “Las Golondrinas,” a farewell song. The Pope kept waving from his seat in the plane.
I think all of us want to know what it means to be human and when we hear the Pope speak and act in humble ways (taking care of the poor, visiting the prisoner, loving the children, etc.), it awakens something in our heart and soul to become more real as we journey in this world. There is a lot of oppression and suffering in the world and the Pope’s message of mercy and love finds a special place in our hearts where we desire to be the men and women God intended us to be. The Pope makes himself one with the people as expressed in the expressions of the people: “Francisco, mi hermano, Ya eres Mejicano.”
Another message that has stayed with me is his call to the young people to dream and not to lose hope. In my experience growing up in poverty, I remember having dreams of going to college even though three older brothers had dropped out of school around the 8th grade. Now that I am in my eighties, I often think of a gracious God that gave me the passion to follow my dreams. I remember distinctly when my Father left me on the college campus and told me that if I didn’t make it in college, I could go home and everything would be all right. Being of a Hispanic culture of that era, one did not oppose one’s parents opinions; however, inside of me, I said to myself, I will never go home; I will die trying but I will not go home. I give all the credit to the Holy Spirit; there is no other explanation.
Finally, I was quite impressed with the ceremony (La despedida) at the airport as the Pope was returning to Rome. After all the dignitaries, both governmental and ecclesial, said good-by to the Pope, with all the people behind the railings waving their yellow flags, the colorful dancers and the mariachis took their turns. The women dancers, standing next to their partners, swayed their beautiful skirts back and forth, symbolic of a farewell gesture. The mariachis were all lined up a short distance from where the Pope had climbed the steps to enter the plane and started playing “Las Golondrinas,” a farewell song. The Pope kept waving from his seat in the plane.
