El Paso, Las Cruces to get 15K tickets for Mass

The golden tickets to Pope Francis' much anticipated Mass in Juárez will be distributed to parishes as early as this weekend, with El Paso receiving twice as many tickets as expected.

"We are ticket ready," said the Rev. Alejandro Martínez, coordinator of ticket distribution for the Juárez Diocese.

The El Paso Catholic Diocese will receive 10,000 tickets — double the original amount — while the Las Cruces Diocese will get 5,000 tickets, officials said.

Most of the tickets are designated for the Mass that will be celebrated at the old Juárez fairgrounds, also known as "El Punto." Some of the tickets, however, are for the other events the pope is scheduled to attend during his Feb. 17 visit to the Borderland.

The tickets to the Mass actually come in different colors that designate routes and locations across Juárez where ticket holders can board buses to be taken to the Mass site and back. People won't be allowed to park anywhere near the site, which would be nearly impossible with more than 450,000 people expected at the Mass and throughout the pope's route, officials said.

The tickets will be distributed by the parishes from the El Paso and Las Cruces dioceses and are free, Martinez said, reminding the public that the tickets are not to be sold.

Martínez said the number of tickets distributed by each church will depend on the size of each parish and the number of churchgoers at each. Each could receive between 1,000 to 1,500 tickets, he said.

Certain parishes — mostly located in the city's outskirts, the Valley of Juárez and Villa Ahumada — should receive extra tickets and distribute them to churchgoers who are disabled or sick, poor or who are Tarahumara, Mazahua or members of other indigenous communities, Martínez said.

He said there will be 60 tickets specifically designated for mothers of girls who have disappeared or been murdered; 1,200 for family members of victims of violence; and 110 for the indigenous community.

Migrants housed at the Casa del Migrante in east Juárez also will get tickets, church officials said.

The Rev. Javier Calvillo, director of Casa del Migrante in Juárez and of the Human Mobility Pastoral of the Juárez Diocese, said that about 100 migrants housed at the shelter will have a ticket to attend the Mass.

They will be among 2,100 migrants from 65 shelters for migrants that the Catholic Church has established all over Mexico who will be invited to attend the event.

So far, only 10 migrants housed at the Casa del Migrante have accepted the invitation, he said.

People receiving the extra tickets will be front-row guests and will be seated in a special section, church officials said.

The Rev. Hesiquio Trevizo, spokesman for the Juárez Diocese, said they will be among the attendees at the Mass who also will have a seat available to them. He said there will be about 20,000 chairs at the Mass, which some 220,000 people are expected to attend.

Although the papal Mass is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., the doors at "El Punto" will open at 6 a.m. that day, church officials said.

They warned that doors will close at 2 p.m. and nobody will be let in after that, even if they have a ticket.

The Mass is scheduled to finish around 6 p.m., but people won't be permitted to leave until after the pope leaves the site.

Church officials said people attending the Mass will be inspected at four checkpoints. No glass or plastic bottles, guns, cameras, "selfie" sticks, umbrellas, lawn chairs or any sharp or pointed items that could be used as a weapon will be permitted. Hydration stations with water will be available throughout the pope's route and at the Mass site.

Mass attendees will be able to carry small bags or backpacks, cut fruit or any other type of food stored in small plastic bags, small doses of medication, hats, and banners and flags without the pole, officials said.

Lorena Figueroa may be reached at 546-6129; lfigueroa@elpasotimes.com; @LFigueroaEPT on Twitter.