Pope Francis, celebrated by many for his messages of inclusion and compassion, Died Monday at the age of 88Just a day after make a surprise appearance on Saint-Pierre square at the Vatican.
Pope Francis is known by many as a symbol of unity and hope, and he has shown grace and kindness to people of the world. Here are some of the most comforting and memorable moments of its 12-year papacy.
Allow children to go to the altar during mass
Pope Francis regularly held a mass for the papal audience at the Vatican. At more than one opportunity, the children headed for the altar during mass – and several times, the Pope did not ask them to leave.
In 2019, a young girl wearing a shirt who said “love” approached the pope during mass, applauding and walking. The pope signaled to security and said in Italian: “Let him stay, God speaks for children, let him stay, let him stay,” according to Reuters.
Reuters
Likewise, in 2018, a young boy moved away from his mother during mass and went around the podium of the Pope, touching the lance of a guard. “He is Argentinian and unruly,” joked the pope to Georg Gänswein, prefect of the papal house, who was sitting next to him, according to Reuters.
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The Pope told the security to allow the boy to stay.
“This child cannot speak. He is silent. But he can communicate. He knows how to express himself,” Pope Francis told the public, according to Reuters. “He is free, free and unruly. But he is free. He made me think of me. Am I so free before God?”
Invite a cancer survivor with Down syndrome to go on the Popemobile
During a trip with his family to Rome in 2018, a then 12 -year -old boy, with Down syndrome named Peter Lombardi had his wish realized when Pope Francis Stopped her friend and kissed her on her head.
The pope then allowed the boy, who had beaten leukemia, to enter the Popemobile, the designated vehicle used by the Pope during public appearances.
In a video captured by the tourist guide of the family, the boy’s mother says that Peter beat cancer “by the grace of God”.
Make tips with the Harlem Globetrotters in Rome
Pope Francis met the Harlem Globetrotters – a team known to have entertained the public with basketball towers – when they brought their program to Rome in 2015.
The group made the Pope an honorary member and offered him a n ° 90 jersey with “Pope François” in the back. He even tried one of their signature tips: turning a basketball ball on the finger.
Playing with Cuba circus
Pope Francis was able to practice his ball rotation skills again when the Cuba circus visited Rome in 2019.
The group joined the Pope during his weekly general audience, and an artist helped him turn a bullet on his index.
Tiziana Fabi / AFP via Getty Images 
Caress and feed a tiger
While celebrating the circus artists in 2016, Pope Francis tried a more daring blow: caressing a tiger.
The pope organized a jubilee for the artists of the circus and carnival, street artists and even more, congratulating them to have brought their art “to the poor and the homeless, to prisoners, to young disadvantaged”.
“You do great things,” He said during an address. “You are” craftsmen “of celebration, astonishment; you are craftsmen of beauty: with these qualities, you enrich society around the world, also with the aspiration to feed feelings of hope and trust.”
Giuseppe Ciccia / Nurphoto via Getty Images 
Wounding the eyes of a child who was going blind
Pope Francis often visited people with disabilities, recently visiting a center for blind children in Hungary in 2023 and at Irmô Alma School for Children Handicap in Dili, East Timor, in 2024.
In 2016, he was photographed wounding the eyes of a 5 -year -old girl suffering from a genetic disorder that leads to blindness. Lizzy Myers, from Ohio, had a list of buckets to see the world before it completely lost its sight. Rome was on the list, and when her family visited, she met the Pope.
Sign a Harley-Davidson
In 2019, Pope Francis welcomed the group of Christian motorcycles Jesus Bikers of Austria and signed a Harley -Davidson – who became known as a “Holy Davidson” – for the group.
It was then sold at auction for more than $ 55,700, the product to build an orphanage in Uganda, According to BBC News.
Massimo Valicchia / Nurphoto via Getty Images 
Visit children in the hospital
As he recovered from abdominal surgery in 2023, Pope Francis used his time at the polyclinic hospital at Agostino Gemelli University in Rome To visit patients with pediatric cancer.
After having undergone surgery to repair a hernia, the Vatican released photos showing the pope in a wheelchair in a corridor of the pediatric oncology room visiting children, their parents and medical staff.
Vatican Media / Document 
Share your 87th birthday cake with children
When he was 87 years old on December 17, 2023, Pope Francis celebrated with children from the Dispensary of Santa Marta, a medical establishment in the Vatican city who helps children and women in need.
In the celebration videos, the children sing “happy birthday” to the Pope, which allows them to make frosting of his cake.
Andreas Solaro / AFP via Getty Images 
“Spider-Man” meeting Mattia Villardita
Pope Francis met Mattia Villardita, who visits children to the hospital when he was dressed in a complete costume as Spider-Man, when he attended his audience in 2021 in Vatican City.
Franco Orignia / Getty Images 
