BOY WHO MOVED POPE FRANCIS TO TEARS JOINS THE SEMINARY

BRAZILIAN BOY WHO MOVED POPE FRANCIS TO TEARS AT THE WORLD YOUTH DAY IN RIO DE JANEIRO ENTERS THE SEMINARY

One very emotional moment of the World Youth Day of 2013 in Rio de Janeiro was the picture of a 9-year-old Lad, Nathan de Brito, who forced his way into the Popemobile, hugged Pope Francis tightly and confided his intention of being a Priest to him.

On that fateful day, Nathan de Brito, according to Block Rosary Crusade Int'l, ran into the Pope's Arms and told him "Your Holiness, I want to be a Priest of Christ, a representative of Christ."

Pope Francis in return beamed at the Boy and replied, "I am going to pray for you, but I ask you to pray for me." As the Pope wipes his tears, he said, "as of today, your vocation is set."

It was a very emotional moment for both of them, as the Holy Father probably prophesied, "As of today, your vocation is set," and assured Nathan of his prayers.

After eight years, just as the Holy Father had said, Nathan is pursuing his Religious vocation. He is currently a Postulant of the Order of Friars Minor in Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Bishop Dom Joaquim Wladimir Lopes Dias of the Diocese of Lorraine, São Paulo, shared a picture of himself with a beaming Nathan on Facebook on January 3, 2022. Nathan could be seen wearing a pectoral cross similar to the one worn by Pope Francis.

As Nathan had sought prayers from the Supreme Pontiff himself, let us all put him in our prayers too, that Our Lady will grant him the grace of perseverance in his vocation. Amen.