A Texas nun who advocated immigrants made an unexpected trip to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis one decade after the Pope chose him to be praised during the 2015 ABC news event.
Sister Norma Pimentel has been the face of immigrant advocacy in South Texas for more than a decade, watching the Rio Grande valley in his role as executive director of Catholic Charities.
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In February 26, 2020, the photo file, sister Norma Pimentel, Executive Director of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, posed for a portrait while visiting the Shaughnessy Family Center at Laboure in South Boston.
Boston Globe Via Getty Images, File
Speaking to ABC News on Thursday, Pimentel remembered his work with the migrant family in 2014 when he helped the border patrol responding to large groups of families who arrived in bad conditions, most of El Salvador. He highlighted the community response at Sacred Heart Parish Hall and discussed the impact of Pope’s support Francis.
“I visited Rome and wrote a letter to him and he sent a video message,” Pimentel told ABC News. “After that, I was invited to the Vatican several times to speak and I also met the Holy Father.”
Pimentel records the Pope’s personal relationship with the struggle of the migrants and the push continues to empathy when dealing with refugees.
His response to the entry of 2014 was what attracted the attention of the Pope – and he chose it during the 2015 ABC News Virtual Hearing to praise his work.
“I want to say thank you,” the Pope said through the translator. “And through you to thank all the sisters of the religious order in the US for the work you have done and what you did in the United States. This is good. I congratulate you. Be brave. Moving forward.”
Since then, the two have remained in touch and he was invited to visit the Vatican several times.
Sister Norma Pime is displayed during the interview with ABC News.
ABC News
Pimentel refers to the history of the family of Pope Francis – the son of Italian citizens who immigrated to Argentina.
“He is connected with immigrants,” Pimentel said.
Not long after being elected as the leader of the Catholic Church in 2013, Pope Francis visited Lampedusa, Italy, along the dangerous routes that were traversed by many migrants to reach Europe.
During his visit, he met with migrants and condemned “globalization of indifference.” He urged the world to recognize these people as humans and humans, not only as refugees.
The Pope also recognizes pimentel work with immigrants on the US-Mexican border, where it helps to provide shelter, food, and comfort for thousands of migrants in the crisis.
Pimentel acknowledged his sadness and sadness over the death of the Pope, noting that he suddenly had the opportunity to attend his funeral on Saturday. Within 12 hours after his death on Monday, a stranger called his office and asked to sponsor his journey to the ceremony. A journalist who traveled with the Pope also offered him a place to live.
“So, I will represent us all. You know, I will go because I want to be there as one of us who will be next to him at this time,” he said. “So I brought all the love and tears of everyone from (Valley Rio Grande) from here, from the valley.”