The Pope will drive past some of these walls. He might miss them, which is fine, because he’ll be having an even bigger effect in Ciudad Juarez. The hideous graffiti on fabric is nowhere to be found. Yet, Hope on Concrete is still standing! I hope this visit does something similar to Ciudad Juarez.
Do you go to the bathroom? How strange a question. My brother was asked this by a four-year-old girl named Monica about 15 years ago. The odd question has haunted me for years, and I’ve been thinking about it lately in relation to the Pope’s upcoming visit to Juárez. First, some context. Monica is from an area of Juárez commonly called La Periferia, literally translated as “the periphery.” It is at the margins, at the edge of the city.
I remember going there when both of my little brothers were learning how to walk. I remember jumping from the swings, and falling from the monkey bars. I’d like to begin telling you about Juárez here. Like much of Juárez this park holds beautiful memories, but also some painful ones.
