Prelate says Texas is a natural stop for a “bridge-building Pope.”
El Paso, Texas — Catholic bishops from both sides of the US-Mexico border are inviting Pope Francis to make a sid trip when he visits Phladelphia next year.
Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, announced during a press conference last night, that together with the bishops of the Diocese of Ciudad Juárez in Mexico and Las Cruces in Texas, a letter of invitation was sent to Pope Francis asking him to visit the border area during his trip to the US, scheduled for September 2015.
"I hope he sees this as a great opportunity and responds to this request made by the bishops of a region, not a single diocese," said Bishop Seitz yesterday afternoon. On the same day, the first visit of Pope Francis to the United States, for the World Meeting of Families, held in Philadelphia September 22-27, 2015, was confirmed.
"We support the proposal with joy and, frankly, whatever the chosen place on the border is, it would always be close to us. We would love to have him here," continued Bishop Seitz. According to a note sent to Fides, Bishop Seitz stressed that the vision of the Holy Father is to build bridges and not to put more walls or fences, "hence the importance of his visit on the border with Ciudad Juarez."
