On February 24, 2016, the Dela Cruz family had a moment they will never forget. Their son, Carlisle, then two years old, was carried by Vatican security to Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Square. Pope Francis kissed Carlisle—a special blessing for their entire family.
Carlisle's father, Junfer, recently reshared a video of the incident. The post included a message full of gratitude: “Thank God for this Galilee Moment for our family.”
Upon hearing the news of Pope Francis's passing, Christian, Carlisle's mother, also shared a photo, along with the message: “Sad on Easter Monday. Rest in peace, Grandpa Kiko.” This photo came from the Vatican press office and now hangs in a special part of their home.
According to the couple, their visit to the Vatican coincided with the Couples for Christ Leaders Summit in Assisi, Italy. Although they were not seated at the front, Vatican security approached them and that's where the unexpected opportunity began.
For Junfer, it was a miracle. “Carlisle was still very active at that time. But when we approached him, he suddenly became calm while talking to Pope,” he said. For the family, it was a true blessing from God.
Now, Carlisle is eleven years old and active in Kids for Christ, while his older sister Charlize is in Youth for Christ. Their parents are raising them in a deep faith.
Christian added, “In this day and age, it is very important to have Popes who are open to the youth and the poor, like Pope Francis. So if Cardinal Tagle is the next one, it will be a great blessing for the church.”
