[excerpts below]

As the first-ever American pope takes to the throne of St. Peter on Sunday, immigration advocates in the Valley hope his past can bring change to the future.

“As we’re beginning to learn more about Pope Leo, we have someone who understands the American context and the Latin American context,” said Joe Rubio, the director at Arizona Interfaith Network.

Rabbi John Linder, who wrote this article, displays the Hebrew Bible he gifted to Pope Francis during a 2022 meeting at the Vatican.

[Originally published by azcentral]

I’ll never forget my encounter with Pope Francis.

At the end of a nearly 90-minute meeting, I presented him with a gift — a leather-bound, gold-leaf Hebrew Bible — and told him what everyone in our delegation was feeling: “Your Holiness, I have never been more certain that we stand on common ground.”

Pope Francis greets Monica Dorcey, West Valley Neighborhood Coalition

It is with great sadness that we learned the news this Easter Monday morning about the death of Pope Francis.

Over the past three years, we, as representatives of Valley Interfaith Project (VIP) and our sister organizations of the Industrial Areas Foundation, were privileged to meet him three times in his Santa Marta residence at the Vatican, each an encounter of 90 minutes or more.

Amidst rate hikes and low-income housing tax credits set to expire this year, Valley Interfaith Project continues to urge State lawmakers to incentivize affordable housing development.

[Excerpt]

St. Francis Xavier hosted the first of several “Know Your Rights” sessions in January. These sessions, facilitated by VIP, empower immigrants by helping them understand their constitutional rights. VIP also ran a session to provide more information on immigration policies that are unfolding. 

Ildefonso Magaña, a parishioner at St. Francis Xavier, shared that his involvement in VIP has given him a new wave of hope as it provides crucial help to the Hispanic community. He also greatly appreciates the support of pastor, Fr. Bob Fambrini, SJ, whose involvement in these efforts has inspired him.  

“I have hope because the Church and different organizations [like Valley Interfaith Project] are activating themselves to help us..., shared Magaña."

Local Parishes Partner with Valley Interfaith Project to Support Parishioners on the Margins, The Catholic Sun [pdf]