Pope in Juarez?

– home to more than 90 million catholics. today mexico’s secretary of external relations confirmed the pontiffs visit for early next year. and he could be visiting right across the rio grande! the secretary says the state of chihuahua is on the list and many are already talking about a possible visit to juarez. abc-7’s jerry najera is live with the story … rick estela pope benedict the 16th was the last pope to visit mexico -where nine out of ten mexicans are catholics. he was there in march of 20-12. but the buzz today is that there’s a chance the pope will be visiting cd juarez. pope francis’s visit to the u.s in september drew in crowds by the millions. there was live television covereage a historic visit to congress a mass was held in philidelphia. all- creating — “pope mania” and today laura ruiz massieu- the secretary of external relations for mexico announced pope francis will visit mexico next year. the pope is expected to visit mexico city and the basilica. also mentioned was a meeting with president enrique pena nieto and a stop in three states- michoacan, chiapas and chihuahua. leaving some to believe there’s a posibility he can visit cuidad juarez “my phone blew up this afternoon” elizabeth o hara is the communications director for the el paso catholic diocese. she tells me there is definitley a buzz around the news. “im as exite as everyone else i think we all are” o’hara tell me a visit to the state of chihuahua from the pope would inject a boost in faith “i think it would just swell the pride here in el paso and juarez and las cruces who identify as catholic” catholics who have seen turmoil in the past years. “i think catholics i the last 15 years have felt beat up by the scandals that rocked this church and i think that pope francis is helping to renew in people that sense of pride” massie said in the news conference wednesday pope francis arrival would be a head of state and a head of catholic church visit. either way-the popes visit to mexico and a possibility of a visit to juarez would be historic. “imagine all of the people that will come from all over the southwest new mexico and texas and arizona for the opportunity to just maybe see him. i think the influence the impact he has is something we’ve never seen” rick estela i can tell you many here along the border will be keeping close tabs on the pope’s schedule. mexican cardinal norberto rivera says pope francis will arrive in mexico febuary 12th the vatican is expected to release a final agenda for pope francis’ visit to mexico december 12th. on this veterans day — abc-7 spoke directly to the