‘Welcome to Hell Paso’: Mural on East Side depicts ‘evil’ pope, city on fire

Fresh off the pope’s visit there’s a local mural that has some people talking.

The mural located on El Paso’s east side depicts what looks like an evil pope
with a flock of sheep below him.

“I started brainstorming and I just thought with all the madness going on and thought about how everything got crazy over this,” Justin Rojas said.

Rojas was talking about the recent commotion over Pope Francis’ visit to Ciudad Juarez.

“You know people were going through extreme measures just to see this guy,” Gabe Vasquez said.

Vasquez was the main artist behind the mural.

Although the mural can’t been seen from the street it’s managed to drum up some attention.

“People would stop to tell us that we’re going to hell and say bad words,” Rojas said.

A picture of the mural has gotten it’s fair amount of shares on Facebook.

Some people like Daniel said “No respect for our pope…just sad.”

Amanda posted: How embarrassing!!!!! Why would you even put this on the news???? So disrespectful!!!!

But there has also been positive opinions.

Laila posted: this is actually awesome!

Messina said, “To each their own. I don’t see why people get so offended. Everyone is free to have their own opinions, their creativity.

Vasquez says for him the mural wasn’t even about stirring up controversy.

“I tried really hard on this. I poured my soul into this and I really thought outside the box and went outside my comfort zone,” Vasquez said.

Rojas told ABC-7 the mural won’t be up forever but it won’t be the last time they’ll paint on the wall.

“If something else comes up on the news, something controversial we just might paint it up too,” Rojas said.

For Rojas he only hopes passersby are left with one expression.

“A smirk, just a smirk, nothing bad, don’t be angry it’s just art,” Rojas said.