Migrants across Latin America are mourning the death of Pope Francis, remembering him as a powerful voice who stood up for their rights during times of pain and uncertainty. From countries deep in South America to the northern borders of Mexico, men, women, and children paid tribute to the late Argentine pontiff who passed away at the age of 88. For many, Pope Francis was more than a religious leader—he was a symbol of hope during their dangerous journeys to escape poverty, violence, and harsh immigration policies.
In the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juárez, migrants gathered at shelters and churches to reflect on the pope’s legacy. “He prayed a lot for us migrants,” said 28-year-old Yulieth Cuellar from Colombia, speaking from a soup kitchen where many stranded migrants receive daily meals. She described Pope Francis as a “great pope” whose words gave them strength and comfort. Many migrants like Cuellar have been stuck in Mexico due to the tough anti-immigration stance taken by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Pope Francis openly criticized harsh immigration policies and described the migrant crisis as a “human tragedy.” In 2016, during his visit to Ciudad Juárez, he made a deeply symbolic gesture by standing on a platform facing the Rio Grande—the river separating Mexico from the United States. There, he laid flowers beneath a black cross in memory of migrants who died trying to cross the border and offered blessings to the gathered crowds. The moment was seen as one of the most emotional parts of his papacy.
What did Pope Francis say about border walls and migration?
He once said, “Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian.” This powerful statement was aimed at Trump’s plan to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Francis believed in building unity, not separation. He even wrote a letter to U.S. bishops calling planned deportations a “calamity,” urging them to treat all people with dignity, especially the poor and the marginalized.
In Ciudad Juárez, the pope’s actions left a lasting impression on the local church community. Bishop Jose Guadalupe Torres recalled how Pope Francis insisted on seeing the border barrier with his own eyes. “I have seen the promised land where neither milk nor honey flows,” he said, describing the harsh reality faced by thousands trying to seek safety and opportunity across the border. His words deeply moved both migrants and church leaders alike.
Farther south in Honduras, 35-year-old Venezuelan Ericxon Serrano remembered the pope as a “wonderful person.” Speaking from a migrant shelter while preparing to return to Venezuela with his wife and children, he recalled how the pontiff had publicly asked Trump to stop harassing migrants. Serrano said the pope’s support gave him courage, even when he had to give up his dream of reaching the United States.
Others echoed similar feelings. Marisela Guerrero, a 45-year-old Venezuelan woman now living in Chile, said that Francis’s messages gave her and others the courage to keep going. “His words encouraged all of us who left our countries,” she said. Church workers and volunteers also remembered the pope with love and admiration. Cristina Coronado, who runs a soup kitchen in Ciudad Juárez, called him a “living saint” and said he brought her back to faith in the Church.
Father Francisco Calvillo, who managed a migrant shelter during the time of the pope’s visit, expressed deep sadness over the loss. “It’s very sad that this angel who defended migrants has passed away,” he said. He also shared his hope that Pope Francis will continue to inspire more leaders within the Church to care for migrants and refugees. “We need more bishops, more priests, and more lay people who are sensitive to this reality,” he added, echoing the sentiments of thousands across the continent.