(article extracts from Christian Today and Washington Post)
Ten-year-old Michael Keating was taken by his parents to welcome Pope Francis when he arrived in Philadelphia on September 26. According to the Washington Post, the family – all devout Catholics – had not originally planned to bring Michael because of the difficulty in getting him around. At the last minute, though, they decided to go as a whole family.
They stood on the tarmac at Philadelphia International Airport, among thousands of others. Something must have caused them to stand out, though, because as the Pope was driven away, suddenly the car stopped. Francis got out, walked over to the Keatings, and offered Michael a blessing, kissing his head. Michael’s mother, Kristin, said it was “life-changing for our family”
Pope Francis was already in his car, headed away from the Philadelphia airport, when he saw Michael Keating.
The whole family, from Elverson, Pa., was on the tarmac to watch Michael’s father, Chuck Keating, lead the Bishop Shanahan high school band as it was playing for the pope.
The car stopped.
The pope emerged, walked up to Michael in his wheelchair, and blessed the boy, who has severe disabilities.
Michael’s mother Kristin Keating said she could not understand Francis’s words, which were not in English. But she understood the emotion: “Love.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H27e0PXlmog]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxUrIXwxnUc]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE8tNuE2jeg]