Filipino boy who hugged Pope Francis recounts brief encounter with pontiff | ABS-CBN
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Filipino boy who hugged Pope Francis recounts brief encounter with pontiff
Filipino boy who hugged Pope Francis recounts brief encounter with pontiff
Reuters
Published Apr 24, 2025 12:44 PM PHT
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During a papal visit to the Philippines in January 2015, Pope Francis made an unscheduled trip to visit children living with Manila’s Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation, a non-profit group aimed at helping street children and the impoverished groups in the capital.
During a papal visit to the Philippines in January 2015, Pope Francis made an unscheduled trip to visit children living with Manila’s Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation, a non-profit group aimed at helping street children and the impoverished groups in the capital.
One of them, then 10-year-old John Alvin Atis, had a special moment with the late Pope, as he welcomed him at the compound entrance with a long embrace.
One of them, then 10-year-old John Alvin Atis, had a special moment with the late Pope, as he welcomed him at the compound entrance with a long embrace.
Atis, now 20 years old, still watches videos of the encounter and recounts how that particular incident had been one of the most meaningful incidents in his life.
Atis, now 20 years old, still watches videos of the encounter and recounts how that particular incident had been one of the most meaningful incidents in his life.
"It felt like an angel had embraced me because it felt so unreal that I couldn't even fathom the feeling at the time," he said.
"It felt like an angel had embraced me because it felt so unreal that I couldn't even fathom the feeling at the time," he said.
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He mentioned that Pope Francis spoke to him briefly during the embrace, which felt special despite Atis not understanding the language. He also said that brief encounter made him think about taking up the priesthood as an option when he grew up.
He mentioned that Pope Francis spoke to him briefly during the embrace, which felt special despite Atis not understanding the language. He also said that brief encounter made him think about taking up the priesthood as an option when he grew up.
Atis still lives in the charity home Francis visited. When he and his friends heard about the Roman Catholic leader's passing on social media, Atis said his heart sank.
Atis still lives in the charity home Francis visited. When he and his friends heard about the Roman Catholic leader's passing on social media, Atis said his heart sank.
"We all felt sad because the Pope gave us happiness and the memory he shared with us. Those are the things we will never forget," he said.
"We all felt sad because the Pope gave us happiness and the memory he shared with us. Those are the things we will never forget," he said.
Matthieu Dauchez, the executive director of the Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation, said he was initially skeptical on the intentions behind the Pope’s visit.
Matthieu Dauchez, the executive director of the Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation, said he was initially skeptical on the intentions behind the Pope’s visit.
"But he was really sincere, meaning he did not want the media to be there. He just wanted to spend time with the poorest among the poor, the street children of Manila. So it was really a wonderful moment”, said Dauchez.
"But he was really sincere, meaning he did not want the media to be there. He just wanted to spend time with the poorest among the poor, the street children of Manila. So it was really a wonderful moment”, said Dauchez.
The Philippines, home to more than 80 million Catholics, has long had a special connection with Francis, whose 2015 visit drew a record crowd of up to seven million people at a historic Mass in the capital.
The Philippines, home to more than 80 million Catholics, has long had a special connection with Francis, whose 2015 visit drew a record crowd of up to seven million people at a historic Mass in the capital.
Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday (April 21) after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest, the Vatican said, ending an often turbulent reign in which he sought to overhaul an ancient and divided institution.
Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday (April 21) after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest, the Vatican said, ending an often turbulent reign in which he sought to overhaul an ancient and divided institution.
(Production: Jay Ereno, Lisa Marie David, Peter Blaza)
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