Best way to see the Pope may be to walk over bridge

What if you want to see Pope Francis with your own eyes and not on a video screen at the Sun Bowl, but you don’t have a ticket to the mass in Juarez?

What’s your best bet to get across the border and get a glimpse of him?

With only 5,000 tickets available to the Pope’s mass in Juarez from the El Paso Diocese, ABC-7 started thinking about the easiest way to see the Pope along his route in Juarez, without having to take a car across the border and get caught up in what is sure to be a mess at the international bridge.

After speaking with the El Paso Diocese, the Bishop and the Mayor, ABC-7 is convinced this is probably the best game plan to see the Pope with your own eyes.

“I think it’s possible,” El Paso Catholic Diocese spokeswoman Liz O’Hara told ABC-7. “You just have to be very determined and leave early.”

Added El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser: “I Think if you do plan on going over into Juarez, the best way is going to be walk over, absolutely.”

Both Leeser and O’Hara agreed walking to Juarez is a good option for El Pasoans hoping to see the Pope.

“Based on what the Mayor of Juarez was telling me, all the closures of the streets that’s going to happen, I’m not sure you’re going to move around, period, in a car, Leeser said.

The only feasible way to see Pope Francis with your own eyes and not take a vehicle into Juarez, may be to walk over the Bridge of the Americas. The Pope, on his way to the mass at the soccer stadium in Juarez, will pass Chamizal park. The street he will be on is less than a two-mile walk from the U.S. side of the Bridge of the Americas.

ABC-7 spotted Luis Carbajal and his two children walking across the Bridge of the Americas on Monday.

“It’s easy,” Carbajal said of the walk, which he and his kids do all the time. “anytime.”

He too believes walking across the bridge to see the Pope is the best option.

“It’s doable, but you very much have to remember there will be certain items you won’t be able to take with you,” O’Hara added. “You have to be able to stand for a long period of time and know you’re going to be in a crowd. From personal experience, we stood in Philadelphia for about four hours for about a 30 second drive by of him. Totally worth it, but just know that could be a very similar experience to what we’re seeing in Juarez.”

Bishop Seitz told ABC-7 that would be the best bet for El Pasoans without tickets to the mass, who still want to catch a glimpse of the Pope in person.

El Pasoans can still expect a long wait to cross the bridge, although Leeser told ABC-7 extra staff will be brought in and all lanes will be open.