El Paso city councilors have unanimously approved plans for the much anticipated visit from Pope Francis to the Mexican city of Juárez next month.
Both border cities will draw hundreds of thousands of visitors aiming to get a glimpse of the pope on Feb. 17.
El Paso will close a portion of its border highway, several downtown neighborhoods and city government. The city estimates these moves will cost about $1 million. At least two El Paso school districts are also closing that day.
The pontiff's Juárez visit will come at the end of a five-day Mexico trip. He will give a mass on a large Juárez field near the international border that people in El Paso may be able to hear. The Catholic Diocese of El Paso is hosting a mass viewing event at the Sun Bowl.
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