The “popemobile” drove through the streets of Philadelphia two weeks ago after picking up its very special guest — Pope Francis. As he was being driven away from his plane, the pope spotted something. He asked his chauffeur to stop.
The pope got out of his car and approached a mother and her profoundly disabled 10-year-old son who was confined to a wheelchair. According to the boy’s mother Kristin Keating, her son was suffering from cerebral palsy. Pope Francis planted a kiss on the young Michael Keating’s forehead as his sobbing mother watched.
When the pope took his hand off him, he had a big smile on his face. To me, in that moment, he must have felt that blessing,” she told reporters.
Junior Caroline Osborn had the chance to see the pope in New York. “(He) drove by in his little black Fiat, and the crowd waiting for him went crazy,” Osborn said. “He stuck his head out the window and we got a little glimpse of him in his white robe.”
The Pope’s six day visit to the United States included an appeal to Congress and the UN, encouraging bishops, meeting the poor, and meeting thousand of his admirers.
Even President Obama thanked the pope for his humility, embrace of simplicity, generosity and gentle nature in which he exemplified Jesus’ teachings.
According to Religious & Ethics Newsweekly, about 34% of the church is made up of Hispanic Catholics. These Americans said that getting to meet their Latin American pope was especially meaningful to their community.
The pope’s purpose in his visit was to address the pressing issues that not only face the United States, but have a significant international impact. These issues included poverty, sexual abuse, the refugee crisis and even climate change.
In fact, on September 28th, the pope met with victims of clergy sex abuse.
“It continues to be on my mind that the people who had the responsibility to take care of these tender ones, violated that trust and caused them great pain,” the pope told sources, adding “God weeps.”
Francis’ visit did not just appeal to the Catholic Church – many Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim groups were engaged. The idea of having a truly spiritual experience, and the epitome of a good Christian to look up to is a concept that appealed to and benefited many people in America.