Phoenix family travels across country to see Pope Francis speak on immigration

PHOENIX — The arrival of Pope Francis to the United States drove one Valley family to make the trip to Philadelphia in hopes of seeing the church leader.

Marina Gomez DelCampo, who attends St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Phoenix with her family, said this is not her first time seeing a pope and wanted to share the experience with her daughters.

“We’ve seen Pope John Paul in the past and also Pope Benedict,” she said. “So it was very important for us that our girls have the same experience.”

The DelCampo family has had their hotel booked since April. They will see the Pope at a concert Saturday night, and they have tickets to see Francis deliver Mass at the World Meeting of the Families on Sunday.

DelCampo, a resident from the border town of Nogales, said the most important event to her will happen on Saturday, when Pope Francis will be addressing thousands of people on an issue that hits close to home.

“The Pope is addressing 10,000 people and we’re one of them, on immigration and family issues,” she said. “My hope is for a change of heart to the Congress, and to whoever makes the law for the immigrants” she said. “It breaks my heart to see all these families breaking apart.”

DelCampo, who is a part of the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders alongside her husband, said she hopes his willingness to speak on the sensitive topic will bring change to communities such as hers.

“It is very important to us that the Pope is going to address that topic,” she said. “Even if he doesn’t make a difference right now, at least he’s going to plant the seed, I think.”

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