Pope Francis wanted to enter the U.S. via Mexico

Pope Francis in Washington, D.C. blesses a girl whose parents are undocumented. YAHOO PHOTO

Pope Francis’ visit to the United States was supposed to begin with a dramatic entrance: He was going to cross into the U.S. through the Mexican border.

“To enter the United States from the border with Mexico would be a beautiful gesture of brotherhood and support for immigrants,” the Pope was quoted as saying in media reports.

The plan was too complicated and eventually scrapped.

Still, Pope Francis’ U.S. visit will be remembered for his powerful message on immigrants, at a time when immigrants are once again in the spotlight.

Immigrant-bashing has been a major theme of the Republican presidential primary race, with front-runner Donald Trump mouthing hateful, racist statements that seem to make him even more popular among ultra-conservatives.

For a few days, at least, the hateful messages got drowned out by a more credible, compassionate voice.

“I ask you not to forget that, like those who came here before you, you bring many gifts to your new nation,” Pope Francis said in Philadelphia. “You should never be ashamed of your traditions. Do not forget the lessons you learned from your elders, which are something you can bring to enrich the life of this American land.”

Well, now the Pope’s visit is over.

Many of us certainly hope his message will not be forgotten as the public attention shifts back to the ugly, hateful Republican campaign.

But I’m not optimistic.

This has been the nastiest Republican campaign in my 25 years living in the U.S. And it’s been truly stunning that despite plainly racist comments mouthed in the most disrespectful and arrogant manner, someone like Donald Trump still leads the pack of Republican contenders.

The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls shows Trump, who painted Mexican immigrants as criminals, still at No. 1, followed by Ben Carson, the doctor who caused a stir by arguing that a Muslim shouldn’t be U.S. president.

How in the world did this happen to a political party once led by Abraham Lincoln?

In July, Trump had told CNN about one of the key themes of his campaign: to build a wall on the US-Mexico border — and make Mexico foot the bill.

“I will build the wall and Mexico’s going to pay for it and they will be happy to for it. Because Mexico is making so much money from the United States that that’s going to be peanuts,” Trump said. “And all these other characters say, ‘Oh, they won’t pay, they won’t pay.’ They don’t know the first thing about how to negotiate. Trust me, Mexico will pay.”

Ahh, how I wish Pope Francis did make that dramatic entrance by crossing that border, if only to highlight the absurdity of Trump’s campaign.

But I guess we should be thankful for a papal visit that afforded us a respite from the Republican circus, and for some of the most moving pronouncements on immigration and immigrants in the US.

Take his speech before the U.S. Congress. The Pope spoke of the thousands who come to the U.S. “in search of a better life for themselves and for their loved ones, in search of greater opportunities.”

“We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation. To respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal.”

“We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners. I say this to you as the son of immigrants, knowing that so many of you are also descended from immigrants.”

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