While on his way to facilitate a scheduled mass at Ciudad Juarez in Chihuahua, Mexico, Pope Francis stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border to pray for the migrants. Presidential candidate Donald Trump, however, thinks that the Pope does not fully understand the importance of border security.
Before heading for the mass, the Pope stopped at a platform overlooking about 500 immigrants on the U.S. side of the border. These people have been granted asylum by the U.S. government after choosing to leave Mexico for safety reasons. One of them, Angelica Ortiz, who cried after seeing the Pope, said she used to live in Ciudad Juarez but decided to flee to the U.S. with her family due to the constant threats from drug traffickers and gang members, New York Times reported.
Pope Francis then thanked the people of Mexico during the mass for welcoming him into the country. He then focused on the issue of migration and offered a prayer for those who are forced to leave their homes due to poverty, exploitation and poverty. In a way, the Pope called on the world, including the U.S. to open its borders to protection and shelter to migrants seeking their help.
However, days before Pope Francis' visit to Mexico, Trump had already criticized him for his plan to visit the U.S.-Mexico border. According to the presidential candidate, the Pope may not fully understand the various security issued associated with the current border system.
"I think Mexico got him to do it because Mexico wants to keep the border just the way it is because they're making a fortune and we're losing," he said according to USA Today.
In response to Trump's comments, the Vatican maintained that the Pope is fully aware of the world's migration issues. In addition, it also noted that country leaders and authority figures should implement better ways of handling this issue and hosting the migrants.
"The Pope always talks about the migration problems all around the world, of the duties we have to solve these problems in a humane manner, of hosting those who come from other countries in search of a life of dignity and peace," Father Federico Lombardi, the spokesperson of the Vatican said in a statement.
