WASHINGTON (CNS) – Pope Francis held a “virtual town hall” with Catholics in Chicago, Los Angeles and McAllen, Texas, in advance of his Sept. 22-27 visit to the U.S.
The town hall was arranged by ABC News, which was to air portions of the meeting during its “World News Tonight” program Aug. 31, with an hour-long version of its “20/20” newsmagazine called “Pope Francis & the People” airing 10-11 p.m. EDT Sept. 4. ABC News said the event would also be posted in its entirety in both English and Spanish on abcnews.com.
Pope Francis engaged via satellite with students at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago, homeless men and women and those working with homeless people in Los Angeles, and members of a McAllen parish located near the U.S.-Mexico border.
“We were allowed inside the Vatican for an hour with Pope Francis, where he greeted us as he prepared for his trip,” said David Muir, “World News Tonight” anchor, in a 90-second “special report” that aired midday on ABC.
“He told me he’s ready, and he delivered a couple of messages to the American people before his historic visit, saying, ‘For me it is very important to meet with all of you, the citizens of the United States, who have your history, your culture, your virtues, your joys, your sadness, your problems, like everyone else. That’s why this trip is important, for me to draw close to you, in your path, your history,’” Muir said of the pope.
Muir added, “He went on to say, ‘I’m praying for you all, and I ask you to please pray for me.’”
The pope allowed us to visit so we could connect him with people in other parts of the country where he won’t be able to visit,” Muir said. “He took questions and heard stories of struggle.
He also spoke in English in some of his answers, at one point asking a teenager in Chicago fighting adversity to please sing for him. And she did.” Pope Francis, a native Spanish speaker, will celebrate Mass in Spanish during his U.S. visit.
“Today was an unforgettable day in the 20-year history of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School,” said a tweet from the school after the town hall ended. Chris Meyer, the school’s director of technology, tweeted, “A glorious morning at Cristo Rey Chicago,” advising in a separate tweet there would be “powerful stories” on the Sept. 4 broadcast.
“The pope did not shy away from some key issues,” Muir added, although he did not disclose what issues they were, inviting viewers to watch “World News Tonight” and the “20/20” installment.
Surprise Guest
At Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Texas, members of the community, most of them volunteers at a respite center for immigrants at Sacred Heart parish hall, were invited to a special event by ABC News, but were not informed in advance of just how special that event would be.
People started arriving at the church before 7 a.m., local time, Aug. 31. The event began at 9 a.m.
In Rome, where the local time was 4 p.m., appearing by satellite and speaking to the people in McAllen was Pope Francis.
“We are thrilled to have been a part of this morning’s conversation with Pope Francis via satellite,” said Brenda Nettles Riojas, communications director for the Diocese of Brownsville.
In McAllen, the event was hosted by Mariana Atencio of Univision and ABC News. Pope Francis spoke with a 19-year-old man, who shared his experience as an immigrant. He told the pope that he is grateful to work and attend college so that he can help support his parents and siblings because of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
A woman from El Salvador, who was wearing an electronic monitoring device around her ankle, asked for a blessing for her toddler son, who has problems with his vision.
A young girl from El Salvador, who traveled 26 days with her mother to the U.S., cried when remembering how she and her mother were subjected to threatening moments during the journey. She drew a large picture for Pope Francis that said, “Te amo Papa” (“I love you Father”) and showed it to him on camera.
Sister Norma Pimentel of the Missionaries of Jesus, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, who started the respite center, was introduced to the pope from her seat in the church.
The pope asked her to approach the microphone so he could meet her. Pope Francis thanked her and the respite volunteers for their hard work.
Wonderful Affirmation
“The pope loves me very much,” Sister Norma said. “Those words will stay with me forever. What a wonderful experience and affirmation for all that we do.”
Volunteers of many faiths have assisted their brothers and sisters in need at the respite center. More than 23,000 immigrants have received essentials such as food, water, clothing, medical care and a place to rest.
Pope Francis also acknowledged all the religious sisters serving in the U.S.
As Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville noted before the program started, the people of the Rio Grande Valley have responded most generously, and generosity is contagious.
“The open heartedness of this community is a sign of the grace of God,” Bishop Flores said. “Each person who has come to help does so with much care. Each one doing what they can to help.
“The immigrants who come to the respite center have been offered a genuine welcome.”