News/International

Thalia Hernandez and her boyfriend, Rafael Muriel, stand on a street Feb. 15 in the El Paso, Texas, neighborhood where they live. Hernandez at age 17 had fled her home in Mexico out of fear for her life and came to the U.S.

El Paso Diocese gets ready for rendezvous with Pope Francis

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EL PASO, Texas - Two days before Pope Francis' main event in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, the Diocese of El Paso was coordinating the final touches to its own two main papal events.

Women religious pose for a photo outside the Cathedral of Morelia in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, Feb. 15. Pope Francis will visit the church prior to his meeting with youth.

Pope's visit is a call to live a merciful life, cloistered nun says

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MORELIA, Mexico - Pope Francis' visit to Morelia will be a call for those suffering to continue along the path of good and an encouragement for those in religious life to live their vocations with mercy, tenderness and love, said a cloistered Mexican nun.

Pope Francis greets people during a meeting with families at the Victor Manuel Reyna Stadium in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, Feb. 15.

In southern Mexico, Pope warns against diminishing importance of family

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SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico - Pope Francis warned against moves to diminish the importance of the family, peppering his talk with anecdotes and off-the-cuff remarks that kept a packed soccer stadium cheering, laughing and applauding.

Pope Francis, Mexico's first lady Angelica Rivera and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto participate in a ceremony at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico Feb. 13

Mexican politicians eager to show themselves meeting Pope Francis

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MEXICO CITY - Shortly after arriving in Mexico City Feb. 12, President Enrique Pena Nieto introduced Pope Francis to most of his Cabinet and senior staff. The next morning, he introduced the pope again to his team at the National Palace in central Mexico City, where presidents and leaders have projected power to the country since colonial times.

Sacred Heart Parish in the Segundo Barrio of El Paso, Texas, is located a few blocks from the border with Mexico. Sacred Heart parishioners were praying daily for the safety of the pope as he made his way through Mexico. His last stop will be in Ciudad Juarez, just across the border.

At El Paso church, people pray day and night for Pope in Mexico

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EL PASO, Texas - In Segundo Barrio, people having been praying day and night for Pope Francis since he set foot in Mexico.

An indigenous woman holds burning incense as Pope Francis celebrates Mass with the indigenous community from Chiapas in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Mexico, Feb. 15.

'Tatic Francis' affirms Mexico's indigenous people in visit to Chiapas

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SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico - Paying homage to the culture and ancient wisdom of Mexico's indigenous peoples, Pope Francis urged them to hold on to hope and condemned those who exploit their people and their land.

Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives to celebrate Mass in Ecatepec near Mexico City Feb. 14.

In crime-plagued periphery, Pope preaches conversion

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ECATEPEC, Mexico - Pope Francis began his travels to Mexico's "peripheries" by visiting an overcrowded, sprawling settlement known internationally as a hunting ground for girls to force into prostitution and for boys to enlist in the drug trade.

Pope Francis gives a vaccine to a boy held by Mexico's first lady Angelica Rivera during a visit to the Federico Gomez Children's Hospital of Mexico in Mexico City Feb. 14.

At children's hospital, Pope prescribes 'kindness therapy'

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MEXICO CITY – A little bit of kindness can go a long way when recovering from illness, Pope Francis told a group of young patients.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City Feb. 13.

Pope makes long-awaited visit to Our Lady of Guadalupe

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MEXICO CITY - Pope Francis fulfilled his much-desired wish to pray in silence before the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Pope Francis attends a welcoming ceremony with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and first lady Angelica Rivera at the National Palace in Mexico City Feb. 13.

Fight corruption, work for common good, Pope tells Mexican officials

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MEXICO CITY - Pope Francis told Mexico's president and government officials that the country's future can be bright only if government and business leaders put an end to a culture of "favors" for the influential and scraps for the poor.

Pope Francis tells Mexican bishops be unified, speak out on tough issues

Pope Francis tells Mexican bishops be unified, speak out on tough issues

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MEXICO CITY - Pope Francis demanded forceful denunciations of drug violence in Mexico from the country's bishops, who have preferred timid pronouncements instead of speaking prophetically on a tragedy that has claimed more than 100,000 lives over the past 10 years and left an another 25,000 Mexicans missing.

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