A Texas nun who defends immigrants makes an unexpected trip to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis a decade after the pontiff distinguished him to rent during an ABC 2015 event.
The Norma Pimentel sister has been the face of the advocacy of immigrants in southern Texas for more than a decade, supervising the Rio Grande Valley in its role as executive director of Catholic charitable organizations.
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In this February 26, 2020, a file photo, Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic charities of the Rio Grande Valley, poses for a portrait while visiting Shaughnessy Family Center in Laboure in the south of Boston.
Boston Globe via Getty Images, file
Addressing ABC News on Thursday, Pimentel recalled her work with migrant families in 2014 when she helped the border patrol to respond to large groups of families arriving in poor conditions, mainly from Salvador. She underlined the community’s response to the Sacred Heart Parish Hall and discussed the impact of support from Pope Francis.
“I visited Rome and wrote to him letters and he sent a video message,” Pimentel told ABC News. “After that, I was invited to the Vatican a few times to speak and I also met the Holy Father.”
Pimentel noted the Pope’s personal link with migrant struggles and his constant thrust for empathy when dealing with refugees.
His response to the 2014 influx is what attracted the attention of the Pope – and he distinguished it during a virtual audience ABC News 2015 to rent his work.
“I want to thank you,” said the pope via an interpreter. “And through you to thank all the sisters of religious orders in the United States for the work you have done and that you do in the United States. It’s great. I congratulate you. Be courageous. Go ahead.”
From that moment, the two remained in contact and she was invited to visit the Vatican several times.
The norma pimental sister is shown during an interview with ABC News.
ABC News
Pimentel underlined the family history of Pope Francis – the son of Italian citizens who immigrated to Argentina.
“He connected with immigrants,” said Pimentel.
Shortly after being elected head of the Catholic Church in 2013, Pope Francis visited Lampedusa, Italy, along the dangerous path that many migrants have traveled to reach Europe.
During his visit, he met migrants and condemned the “globalization of indifference”. He urged the world to recognize these individuals as human people and beings, not only like refugees.
The pontiff also recognized the work of pimentel with immigrants on the American-Mexican border, where it helped provide shelter, food and comfort to thousands of migrants in crisis.
Pimentel recognized her sadness and sorrow on the death of the pope, noting that she had the chance to attend her funeral on Saturday. Within 12 hours after his death on Monday, an unknown called his office and asked to sponsor his trip to the ceremony. A journalist who traveled with the Pope also offered him a place to stay.
“So, I’m going to represent us all. You know, I’m going because I want to be there like one of us who will be next to him right now,” she said. “And so I bring all the love and tears of everyone in (Rio Grande Valley) from here, the valley.”
