VELSEN, THE NETHERLANDS – On February 24, 2016, Pope Francis kissed a two-year-old Filipino boy, Carlisle dela Cruz, during his family’s visit to the Vatican.  

In a video recently reposted by his father Junfer, Carlisle, now 11 years old, is seen being lifted by Vatican security and brought to Pope Francis during a public appearance at Saint Peter’s Square. 

The moment remains a cherished memory for the Dela Cruz family, who are active leaders in the Couples for Christ community in the Netherlands. 

The post came with a heartfelt message: “We will miss you, Pope Francis. Thank God for this Galilee Moment for our family. Thank God for your unconditional love, commitment, and service. Our kids will witness one day... Saint Francis of Argentina.” 

Following the news of Pope Francis’ passing, Carlisle’s mother, Christian, shared the photo of Pope Francis with her son taken that day, with a caption: “What sad news on Easter Monday.  Rest well Lolo Kiko.” 

The photo was given to them by the Vatican's press office and has been given a special place at their house. 

ABS-CBN News had an exclusive visit and interview with the Dela Cruz family who have been residing in the Netherlands for almost 19 years.  

VATICAN VISIT

The family’s visit to the Vatican that February was a side trip following their attendance at a Couples for Christ European Leaders Summit in Assisi, Italy. 

It happened to be a Wednesday, the day of the Papal Audience, when the Holy Father, riding the Popemobile, greeted the faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Square. 

According to Junfer, Carlisle’s father, they weren’t positioned at the front but stood off to the side along the Popemobile’s route. 

To their surprise, a member of the Vatican security approached them. “I have to say, we were truly blessed. I mean, we never could have imagined it,” Junfer shared. 

“During that time, I was telling Carlisle, at a young age, he didn’t like to stay in one place. He moved around. So at that moment, we were positioned on the barricade. And I was intentionally putting Carlisle on the ledge, just to sit him down there. But then Carlisle wanted to go out of my arms. So I decided to put him on my shoulders, just for him to have a view." 

"But the moment that I was trying to put him on my shoulders, I saw this security coming towards us… then I just froze like that. And then one thing led to another. After that, it was really like an awe moment for us,” Junfer said.  

He admitted he immediately felt anxious. Carlisle was usually a sprightly boy—he squirmed a lot, especially when a stranger tried to pick him up. 

What happened next, however, left Junfer in awe. “We took photos of the moment. Pope Francis spoke to Carlisle first before kissing him. I was amazed, really, to see how calm and attentive Carlisle was, as if he was truly listening. It was such a blessing.” 

After that brief but special moment, a Vatican staff member handed them a card where they could access the photo—an unforgettable experience not just for little Carlisle, but for the entire family.

“So after that, we were able to go to the Vatican media, request for the prints, wait for the prints, and be able to have this souvenir with Pope Francis,” Junfer said. 

Junfer’s wife, Christian, said they “feel blessed to have that moment when we recall that we were in the Vatican grounds and when Pope Francis kissed Carlisle. And we're blessed to see a saint in the making.” 

Carlisle, on the other hand, quietly said he feels “very lucky” and “actually very proud” to be among the very few kids to have that special moment with the late Pope, even though he was very young then to remember what happened. 

He expressed sadness about His Holiness’ passing away. He and his sister, Charlize, 15, were both born in the Netherlands. Their parents have been intentional about raising them in the Catholic faith. 

They have been brought to church regularly and encouraged to take an active role in the Kids for Christ ministry of Couples for Christ from a young age. Carlisle’s ate (big sister) Charlize said that “in the future I would love to follow in what my parents do.” 

“We always tell them to love the Mass, to enjoy it,” Junfer shared. “We talk about Jesus with them.” Now, as they grow older, the children are transitioning into the Youth for Christ ministry, another step in keeping their faith alive and thriving.  

At the news of the passing away of Pope Francis, the family offered prayers for him and will continue to do so in their daily prayers. They had seen the Pope in person three times. 

he last was in 2024 in Belgium during His Holiness' pastoral visit to the region of Benelux.  

Couples for Christ 

Through the Couples for Christ Belgium, they were able to attend the event, had a mass and saw the motorcade of the Pope, whom they recalled was even at a youth festival because he had a soft spot for the youth and children. 

“I think for us in our lifetime, we've been blessed to see or to have witnessed how three popes reigned. Pope John Paul, then Pope Benedict, and then Pope Francis. We saw both Pope Francis and Pope Benedict in person, actually. But for me personally, I've witnessed the reign of three popes. And Pope Francis, I could easily say, is my favorite because he's the epitome of, I think, what Christ would want in the world today. A Pope who is embracing everyone, and I think he's really that Pope,” said Christian. 

The Couples for Christ leadership has also had a personal relationship with Pope Francis. 

“The whole community together with the Couples for Christ International Council already immediately issued a statement of prayer also for Pope Francis. But at the same time, we rejoiced because we had an amazing experience. Most of our titos (uncles) and titas (aunties), members of our international councils, have met Pope Francis,” Junfer said.  

Junfer said that in in June 2024, the Couples for Christ International Council chairman Joe Yamomoto and his wife Mila again visited Pope Francis and they handed him dried mangoes because they recalled that when His Holiness was in the Philippines in 2015 after Typhoon Yolanda, he tasted dried mangoes and liked it. 

The Dela Cruz family plans to visit the Vatican again and pay their respects to Pope Francis in May when they attend the CFC Global Conference where all members worldwide will gather in two weekends to talk about their faith and journey as pilgrims of hope. 

It will be held in Castel Gandolfo, the summer villa of the Pope. Among the expected guest speakers are Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David.   

Cardinal Tagle for the Papacy? 

When asked about the chances of a Filipino or Asian Pope in Cardinal Tagle, a Papabile (serious contender to become a Pope), the couple shared their hopes.  

“We pray that all the Cardinals will discern what the world needs at the moment. And I think if Cardinal Tagle is the will of God, it will bring something to the Catholic Church. It will unite or it will bring a different papacy during our era,” said Junfer. 

On the other hand, Christian said, anyone who becomes the next Pope will have big shoes to fill. 

“We've seen how often he (Cardinal Tagle) has been tapped to perform several positions in the Vatican. And I think that's a testament to how Pope Francis saw him as a possible person who could replace him later on. Or at least it has given him an opportunity to be exposed to what is happening in Rome, in the Vatican...It is a very important and a very big shoes to fill for the next Pope to continue what Pope Francis has started and that is to continue to embrace the marginalized, to continue to look out for the people who are lost and the hopeless and to bring light to those people who are less privileged, who are less looked at by society,” Christian said. 

The Dela Cruz couple said that having a Pope who was raised in a family-oriented culture and a deeply faithful nationality would greatly enrich the Catholic faith—especially at a time when Catholics are increasingly becoming a unifying presence across various countries. 

“So I think if he (Tagle) will become the Pope, he will bring something special. I've seen it, we've been in so many countries and we've seen the evangelizers are actually Filipinos. And to have someone heading the Catholic Church to be a Filipino, I think that is going to be a big blessing not only for Filipinos but for the Catholics as a whole,” said Christian.