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WORLD NEWSMonday 15 February 2016
Pope condemns drug trade’s ‘dealers of death’ in Mexico
NICOLE WINFIELD
JACOBO GARCIA
Associated Press
ECATEPEC, Mexico (AP) —
Pope Francis condemned
the drug trade’s “dealers
of death” and urged Mexi-
cans to shun the devil’s
lust for money as he led
a huge open-air Mass for
more than 300,000 people
Sunday in this violence-rid-
dled city.
“Let us get it into our heads: The faithful lined the pope’s Nevertheless, women who
With the devil, there is no
dialogue,” the pope said
at the biggest scheduled
event of his five-day visit to petals as he passed by and
Mexico.
Francis brought a message
of encouragement on the
second full day of his trip
to residents of Ecatepec,
a poverty-stricken Mexico
City suburb of some 1.6
million people where drug
violence, kidnappings and
gangland-style killings, par-
ticularly of women, are a
fact of life.
“He’s coming to Ecatepec
because we need him
here,” said Ignacia Godi-
nez, a 56-year-old home-
maker. “Kidnappings, rob-
beries and drugs have all
increased, and he is bring-
ing comfort. His message
will reach those who need
it so that people know we,
the good people, outnum-
ber the bad.” In a clear
reference to the drug lords
who hold sway in the city’s
sprawling expanses of cin-
derblock slums, Francis
focused his homily on the
danger posed by the devil.
“Only the power of the
word of God can defeat
him,” the pope said.
In a final prayer, he urged
Mexicans to make their
country into a land of op-
portunity “where there will
be no need to emigrate in
order to dream, no need
to be exploited in order
to work, no need to make
Pope Francis walks with the pastoral staff as he celebrates a mass in Ecatepec, Mexico, Sunday,
Feb. 14, 2016.
the despair and poverty of
many the opportunism of
a few, a land that will not
have to mourn men and
women, young people
and children who are de-
stroyed at the hands of the
dealers of death.”
motorcade route to the
huge field where the Mass
took place, tossing flower
cheering with pom-poms in
the yellow and white of the
Vatican flag.
Vendors sold T-shirts, plates guard to protect the mo-
with Francis’ image on
them, pins, bandanas and
cardboard-cutout figures
of the pope.
An estimated 100,000 peo-
ple have been killed and
27,000 have disappeared
in gangland violence since
President Enrique Pena Nie-
to’s predecessor launched
an offensive against drug
cartels shortly after taking
office in late 2006.
At least 1,554 women have
vanished in Mexico State
since 2005, according to
the National Observatory
on Femicide, and last year
the government issued
an alert over the killings of
women in Ecatepec and
other parts of the state.
came to see Francis said
they felt safe, thanks in part on Femicide, said she was
to the huge security pres-
ence. The government as-
signed more than 10,000
police, soldiers and mem-
bers of the presidential
torcade and Mass.
“I’m protected by my faith
and the joy of seeing the
pope up close,” said Gra-
ciela Elizalde, 35, who ar-
rived at the field Saturday
evening and spent the
night on the street, “and
the thugs know that we the
good people have come
out to take the streets.”
She added: “The pope
is not going to change
things, but at least he will
and have submerged the
country in blood and vio-
lence.”
Associated Press Francis’ grueling schedule
seemed to be taking a toll
touch the hearts of those on him on Saturday, when
who do harm and are try- the 79-year-old pontiff ap-
ing to destroy the country. peared to nod off at an
He is the ‘messenger of evening Mass and also lost
peace’ because that’s ex- his balance and fell into a
actly what Mexico needs, chair set up for him. He ap-
not just Ecatepec.” peared much livelier Sun-
However, Maria de la Luz day, beaming and wav-
Estrada, coordinator of ing at the crowds along his
the National Observatory route.
As Francis drove down a
disappointed that Francis main boulevard before
didn’t directly condemn adoring faithful in central
violence against women or Mexico City, dozens of
offer support to families of emotional nuns rushed the
victims, saying that at the metal barricades to sa-
very least he could have lute the popemobile and
made reference to discrim- a group of lay missionar-
ination against women. ies, mostly teenagers, sang
“I still feel that he owes us the traditional Mexican folk
these words,” she said. song “Cielito Lindo.”
Conchita Tellez, 65, from At his last stop, a pediat-
the border city of Mexicali, ric hospital, one girl per-
held out hope that Francis formed a heartfelt rendi-
can help ease the troubled tion of “Ave Maria” for the
soul of the country. pope. Another presented
“The pope comes to Mex- Francis with a handmade
ico at a very ugly mo- Valentine’s Day card with
ment,” Tellez said, “and he a big heart on the front.
comes to pray for us and “You made this?” Francis
for all those who lost hope asked as he accepted it.
“Gracias.”
The pope bent down and
kissed dozens of sick kids,
playfully mussing the hair
of the older ones. Some
posed for selfies with the
pope. Several rose from
their wheelchairs to em-
brace him. Francis also
played doctor to one little
boy, administering medi-
cine from a dropper.
The pope makes a point
of stopping at children’s
hospitals during his foreign
trips, both to visit with the
kids and to thank the staff
for caring for them. While
parts of the encounters
are televised, Francis also
visits bedridden patients in
private for more personal
encounters.q