SAN LUIS, Ariz. — As the sun set over the international border, a small cadre of Catholic bishops processed toward Mexico. Flanked by priests, religious brothers and sisters, laity and immigration advocates, the U.S. prelates walked along Main Street in San Luis, Arizona, Oct. 12.
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tucson, led the group in its empathetic and merciful mission to stand in solidarity with migrants.
“We join together with our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV as we remember that the Lord has called us to remember the littlest and weakest among us,” he said.
Bishop Kicanas, who led the Diocese of Tucson for nearly 15 years before retiring in 2017, recounted his experiences of blessing migrants. “I could see that they were worried, anxious, but they believed in the Lord, and they understood that each of them was a person of infinite value,” he said.
His brother bishops shared similar sentiments, among them Bishop Josè Luis Cerra of the Diocese of Nogales in Mexico; Bishop John P. Dolan of Phoenix; Auxiliary Bishop Gregory W. Gordon of Las Vegas; Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino, California; and Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pulido of San Diego. Four other dioceses sent representatives in a show of solidarity.
The binational pilgrimage was inspired by the Kino Border Initiative, a Catholic organization rooted in the Jesuit order that exists in Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora. “I feel a deep gratitude for the reality of the unity of our Church,” Kino Border Initiative executive director Joanna Williams said. “This day is symbolic. It gives me great hope, and I want to transmit that hope to the migrants that we serve in Nogales, Mexico.”
Bishop Kicanas picked up a large wooden cross to begin the walk into Mexico. “We walk together with our brothers and sisters who are struggling that they might know our love and concern and respect for each one of them,” he said.
Along the route the bishops took turns carrying the cross, stopping at makeshift stations commemorating symbols of the migrant journey. Several hundred joined in the procession.
As the group filed into Mexico, they were met by a group of Mexican bishops, priests and laity, including Bishop Cerra Luna of Nogales, Bishop Enrique Sánchez Martinez of Mexicali and Bishop Eugenio Lira Rugaricía of Matamoros-Reynosa.
Moments later the binational pilgrimage continued south toward Parroquia de la Immaculada Concepción. There all the bishops and representatives from the dioceses took turns signing an agreement to continue supporting migrants.
The binational accord underscored the commitment to solidarity and encouraged the lay faithful to do what they can with five invitations for action:
— Encounter and accompany migrants.
— Build community with people who have migrated and people who are distant from those realities.
— Fervent prayer and advocacy.
— Continued prayer for policymakers.
— Peaceful and prayerful public witness.
After signing the agreement, the bishops processed into the church. The Diocese of Mexicali livestreamed the bilingual Mass that was concelebrated by at least 30 priests from Mexico and the United States.
