10 Pope Francis

Pope Francis, celebrated by many for their messages of inclusion and compassion, He died Monday at the age of 88just one day later Making a surprise appearance in the Plaza de San Pedro in the Vatican.

Pope Francis is known by many as a symbol of unity and hope, and showed grace and kindness to people around the world. These are some of the most moving and memorable moments of his 12 -year -old papacy.

Allowing children to walk towards the altar during the Mass

Pope Francis regularly had Mass for the papal public in the Vatican. On more than one occasion, the children have walked towards the altar during the Mass, and many times, the Pope did not ask them to leave.

In 2019, a young woman with a shirt that said “love” walked to the Pope during the Mass, applauding and walking. The Pope made a gesture for security and said in Italian: “Let her stay, God speaks for the children, that you let her stay, to stay,” according to Reuters.

Similarly, in 2018, a child escaped from his mother during the Mass and walked around the Pope’s podium, touching the spear of a guard. “He is Argentine and rebellious,” the Pope joked to Georg Gänswein, prefect of the papal house, who was sitting next to him, according to Reuters.

The Pope told Security to allow the child to stay.

“This child can’t speak. He is mute. But he can communicate. He knows how to express himself,” Pope Francis told the audience, according to Reuters. “He is free, free and rebellious. But he is free. He made me think of myself. Am I also so free in front of God?”

Invite a cancer survivor with Down syndrome to travel in Popemobile

On a trip with his family to Rome in 2018, a 12 -year -old boy with Down syndrome called Peter Lombardi had his wish fulfilled when Pope Francis He stopped his popemobile and kissed him on the head.

The Pope then allowed the child, who had defeated leukemia, enter the Popemobile, the designated vehicle used by the Pope during public appearances.

In a video captured by the family tourist guide, the child’s mother says that Peter beat cancer “by the grace of God.”

Tricks with Harlem Globetters in Rome

Pope Francis met the Harlem Globetrotters, a team known for entertaining the public with basketball tricks, when they took their show to Rome in 2015.

The group made the Pope an honorary member and gave him a T -shirt No. 90 with “Pope Francis” on the back. He even tried one of his signature tricks: turning a basketball on his finger.

Acting with the Circus of Cuba

Pope Francis was able to practice his ball rotation skills again when the Circus of Cuba visited Rome in 2019.

The group joined the Pope during his weekly general audience, and an artist helped him turn a ball on his index finger.

Caress and feed a tiger

While celebrating circus artists in 2016, Pope Francis tried a more daring trick: caressing a tiger.

The Pope celebrated a jubilee for circus and carnival artists, street artists and more, congratulating them for bringing their art “to the poor and homeless people, prisoners, disadvantaged young people.”

“You do great things,” he said during one direction. “You are ‘artisans’ of celebration, amazement; you are artisans of beauty: with these qualities enriches the society of the entire world, also with the aspiration to nurture feelings of hope and trust.”

Blessing the eyes of a child who was getting blind

Pope Francis often visited people with disabilities, recently visiting a Center for Blind Children in Hungary in 2023 and the Soul Irmãs school for children with disabilities in Dili, East Timor, in 2024.

In 2016, he was photographed blessing the eyes of a 5 -year -old girl with a genetic disorder that leads to blindness. Lizzy Myers, from Ohio, had a list of desires to see the world before she completely lost her view. Rome was on the list, and when his family visited, he met the Pope.

Sign a Harley-Davidson

In 2019, Pope Francis welcomed the Group of Christian motorcycles Jesus Cyclists of Austria and signed a Harley-Davidson, which became known as a “Saint Davidson”, for the group.

It was later auctioned for more than $ 55,700, with income to build an orphanage in Uganda, according to BBC News.

Visit children at the hospital

When he recovered from abdominal surgery in 2023, Pope Francis used his time at the Polyclinic Hospital of the Agostino Gemelli University in Rome Visit patients with pediatric cancer.

After undergoing surgery to fix a hernia, the Vatican published photos that show the Pope in a wheelchair in a corridor in the pediatric oncology room visiting children, their parents and medical staff.

Sharing your 87 birthday cake with children

When he turned 87 on December 17, 2023, Pope Francis celebrated with children in Santa Marta Dispensary, a medical center in the city of the Vatican that helps children and women in need.

In videos of the celebration, the children sing “Happy Birthday” to the Pope, who lets them hit with ice from their cake.

“Spider-Man” Mattia Villardita

Pope Francis met Mattia Villardita, who visits the children in the hospital while dressed in a complete suit like “Spider-Man”, when he attended his audience in 2021 in the city of the Vatican.

In:
• Pope Francis