Pope Francis is visiting sister city Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Feb. 17. The visit will last nine hours and includes a visit to the jail, the local seminary, a gymnasium, a mass for approximately 212,000 people, and a “parade” in the city going through Avenida Tecnologico, Calle Barranco Azul, Avenida Manuel Gomez Morin, Avenida Pedro Rosales de Leon, Avenida Rafael Perez Serna, Heroico Colegio Militar.

“I’m really excited for the Pope to come, it is a big deal for my family and I,” junior Arlette Ruiz said.

The event is of such magnitude that the day will be a holiday in Juarez. Schools and government offices will be closed on that day.

Even school districts in El Paso are closing. The decision for Socorro Independent School District was made Jan. 19, during their meeting. Classes were officially canceled for the Ysleta Independent School District Jan. 19 also. There is no school for either district Feb. 17.

“I think classes should be canceled because many will abuse the chance to miss school and nobody will come anyway, even if they are not religious,” senior Beatriz Hernandez said.

People are encouraged by the Juarez diocese to attend. Young people are especially encouraged to attend the farewell at the Abraham Gonzalez International Airport. Community members are concerned about the reason for such decision, some are not sure students should miss school for religious reasons.

“It becomes a safety issue. Staff will be missing and you can’t have students with no one to take care of them. Some students are catholic and would be absent and we can’t advance if we have that many students missing,” principal Antonio Acuña said.

The city plans to close Loop 375 from U.S. 54 to Santa Fe Street and from U.S. 54 to Yarbrough Drive and several other streets near downtown for most of Feb. 17.