Pope blesses children as he passess

EIGHT children, the youngest being three, may not fully grasp what had just happened to them, but they will surely come to understand and treasure their ‘unexpected’ personal meeting with Pope Francis when they get older. It happened at 9.30am last Saturday at Korobosea when the motorcade escorting the Pope Automobile drove out of the Apostolic Nunciature and stopped next to the children who were caught up in the excitement, but may not have known that they had each met with the source of the excitement in person.

Upon seeing them, and to every bystander’s amazement, Pope Francis stopped the motorcade. While still seated in the automobile, he placed his hand on each child’s head, said a prayer and gave each child a rosary while his security detail waited and watched. It was history in the making for the many families in their homes along that street and who will be telling their children well into the future.



It started off a typical Saturday as the children individually woke up from their beds earlier than 7am, taking cue from their fathers and mothers – showered, dressed and headed out to the location where they were met by the Pontiff. In a gesture that has since endeared this Pope to those gathered all along the streets of Korobosea, Pope Francis would stop, impart a quick greeting and hand out rosary beads with sweets to children and later place his hand on their head and smile before leaving. He arrived at the Government House at Konedobu at 9.

40am. Children have little idea and knowledge who Pope Francis is, but seeing their streets busy with unusual security detail from Vatican City, sound of the motorcade, tents setup and guards marching back and forth in front of their homes on Friday evening, they became curious and joined their parents to see what was happening. “Myself as a Catholic mum, I was so blessed, emotional and happy at the same time to see my two boys, ages four and seven.

Seeing Pope (Francis) putting his hand on my children, I felt different in myself,” she said. “I had goosebumps seeing the moment and I will never forget the moment that happened this morning,” Anna Kapal said. “Giving the rosary to my children and other children while touching them is a blessing to us and the country,” Mrs Kapal added.

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