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Pope Francis Visits the U.S.-Mexico Border
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<p>By Christopher Kerr 02-12-2016</p>
<p>Do you remember the video clips of 5-year-old Sophie Cruz dashing across Constitution Avenue to Pope Francis’s popemobile during his visit to Washington, D.C., last September? The story of that encounter went viral: a young child with undocumented parents from Mexico who was granted permission to approach the pope, give him a letter, and receive a hug.</p>
<p>At the time, many seemed surprised by encounters like these during the pope’s U.S. trip — particularly that he would choose to make personal contact with the realities faced by marginalized populations. But this encounter-centered approach has been Francis’ way of operating since the outset of his pontificate.</p>
<p>In July 2013, he decided to visit the southern Italian island of Lampedusa to remember the thousands of African migrants who died in their attempt to reach the island. There he personally met with newly arrived migrants before celebrating mass in a sports field that had been converted into a migrant reception center. Citing the parable of the Good Samaritan during his homily, he asked, “Has any one of us grieved for the death of these [migrant] brothers and sisters? Has any one of us wept for these persons who were on the boat?”</p>
<p><a href="https://sojo.net/articles/power-encounter">MORE>></a></p>
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<p>Do you remember the video clips of 5-year-old Sophie Cruz dashing across Constitution Avenue to Pope Francis’s popemobile during his visit to Washington, D.C., last September? The story of that encounter went viral: a young child with undocumented parents from Mexico who was granted permission to approach the pope, give him a letter, and receive a hug.</p>
<p>At the time, many seemed surprised by encounters like these during the pope’s U.S. trip — particularly that he would choose to make personal contact with the realities faced by marginalized populations. But this encounter-centered approach has been Francis’ way of operating since the outset of his pontificate.</p>
<p>In July 2013, he decided to visit the southern Italian island of Lampedusa to remember the thousands of African migrants who died in their attempt to reach the island. There he personally met with newly arrived migrants before celebrating mass in a sports field that had been converted into a migrant reception center. Citing the parable of the Good Samaritan during his homily, he asked, “Has any one of us grieved for the death of these [migrant] brothers and sisters? Has any one of us wept for these persons who were on the boat?”</p>
<p><a href="https://sojo.net/articles/power-encounter">MORE>></a></p>
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