Bridge linking El Paso to Mexico draws papal enthusiasts

EL PASO, Texas — Residents in the West Texas city of El Paso were preparing Wednesday for the experience of a large outdoor Mass that Pope Francis will celebrate across the border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, as he wraps up his visit to the Latin American country.

Thousands of people from El Paso as well as other parts of the U.S. were expected to make the short trip over the various bridges that link the cities to attend the Wednesday afternoon Mass, that is expected to be attended by more than 200,000 people. Thousands more were expected to watch a livestream from the Sun Bowl stadium at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Francis arrived Wednesday morning in Juarez, greeted by hundreds of people in bleachers set up at the city’s airport.

Meanwhile, a steady stream of pedestrians walked across the Bridge of the Americas into Juarez. Volunteers from the Catholic Diocese handed out free water bottles to those crossing the bridge, the port of entry that is closest to where the Mass in Juarez will be held.

One of the pedestrians, Luis Trillo, did so despite pain from arthritis in his legs. The elderly man said was excited to hear the pope’s blessing at the Mass.

El Paso resident Maria Hermosillo, 35, said she was going to the Mass alone because she couldn’t find anybody else to go with her.

“I’m very excited to be in the presence of the spirit that the pope has and his message,” she said.

While the Mass will be held in a large field in Juarez that many will be able to see from downtown El Paso, people will not be able to get close to the border on the U.S. side as officials have closed down several downtown neighborhoods and a portion of a border highway.

Francis also planned to stop at the border fence to give a blessing in honor of migrants on the other side and to pray for those who died trying to get to the U.S.