Pope Francis goes to children once left in the streets while visiting the Philippines

PH’s ex-street kids meet Pope after online campaign

             

INTRAMUROS, Jan. 16, 2015—It started as a wish, and that wish came true today.
Children and staff members of Tulay ng Kabataan (TNK) Foundation, a charity that supports abandoned and former street children, were originally just expecting to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis when he passes by Gen. Luna St. in Intramuros on board his pope mobile, after months of lobbying – mostly through the mediation of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle — to personally meet the Holy Father.

The Holy Father has a private meeting with the children and staff of Tulay ng Kabataan (TNK), a charity for abused and abandoned kids after his Mass at the Manila Cathedral. The encounter lasted for 15 minutes. (Photo: TNK)

But they got much more than that when no less than the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics said yes to meet the TNK kids in a short yet intimate encounter that was closed to the media — an undisclosed part of the papal itinerary.
Surprise visit
According to Alexandra Chapeleau, Communications and Partnerships Coordinator of TNK, it was only a few minutes before the end of the
Holy Father’s Mass at the Manila Cathedral that they received final confirmation from the papal security team that the Holy Father would be visiting the foundation, which is a stone’s throw away from the said church.
“Twenty minutes before the end of the mass, the security guards of the Pope came and informed us that he will enter the center after the Mass,” Chapeleau said.
“It was really a surprise. We were just very lucky to have a center just on the side of the Cathedral. So let us say it was providential that the Holy Spirit guided us,” TNK Executive Director Fr. Matthieu Dauchez said in an interview with CBCP News.
Pope Francis’ visit to the TNK center, which lasted for a short but meaningful fifteen minutes, was characterized by jubilant singing, dancing, hugging, and gift-giving from the children of the foundation.
Cathedral’s back-door
Chapeleau said after receiving confirmation of the Pope’s visit, the children could not contain their joy and excitement to see their “Lolo Kiko” in person.
After the Mass, Pope Francis used the back door of the Manila Cathedral to get to the TNK center located on the left side of Gen. Luna St. across Manila Cathedral.

The children of Tulay ng Kabatan (TNK) get a few moments with Pope Francis at the TNK Center in Intramuros, after launching the online campaign #EvenUs to see the Holy Father, Jan. 16, 2015. (Photo: TNK)

Upon reaching the gate of the TNK center, the Supreme Pontiff was greeted by a warm hug from 10-year-old Alvin Alis.
“Your visit to us is very meaningful. You are the representation of Christ to us who are poor. You are the one who gives us hope, out dear Holy Father. Thank you very much,” Alis said in Filipino as he welcomed the Pope and accompanied him to the center’s makeshift stage, where the latter was embraced by other TNK children
“When I got the chance to hug the Pope, I was very happy. It was the first time that I was able to hug him; it was the first time that I was able to hug a pope,” said 13-year-old John Paul Delos Santos, another one of the TNK children.
According to James Caparas, 10, being given the opportunity to hug Pope Francis was a life-changing experience for him.
“I suddenly began to tear up. It was as if I told myself, this is probably my chance to hug a pope, my hope to live according to my inspiration,” he explained in Filipino.
The Holy Father arrived in the country late Thursday, kicking off his five-day pastoral visit to the Philippines from Jan. 15 to 19. (Jennifer M. Orillaza/CBCPNews)