Before his trip to Hungary, Pope Francis met with a delegation of Mexican bishops. They came mainly from the north of the country. The Pope asked them about the 39 migrants who died in the detention center fire in Ciudad Juárez. He had already prayed for them in March.
POPE FRANCIS
Let us pray for the migrants who died yesterday in a tragic fire in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. May the Lord receive them into his Kingdom and give comfort to their families. Let us pray for them.
ABP. ROGELIO CABRERA LÓPEZ
President, Mexican Bishops Conference
Yes, this fact had to come out. We will call it symbolic of the suffering experienced by the migrants. It is a criminal act, unacceptable from many points of view. 39 people died.
Pope Francis met with the bishops soon after being discharged from the hospital and on the day before he traveled to Hungary. He dedicated two and a half hours to the group, challenging them to watch over the migrants in border cities.
BP. HERIBERTO CAVAZOS PÉREZ
Archdiocese of Monterrey, Mexico
With great emotion, he told us that we had to get close to them. That, above all, we had to accompany them and be able to listen to them.
The Pope also spoke with the bishops about the two Jesuits murdered in the Tarahumara mountains last year.
POPE FRANCIS
So many murders in Mexico! I am united in affection and prayer to the Catholic community impacted by this tragedy. Once again, I repeat that violence does not solve problems but increases the amount of useless suffering.
The situation of migrants and violence in the country are two issues of particular concern to Pope Francis and he has asked for the Church's help.
RM
TR: OJ
