AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
BETALBATIM: On a cold morning of May 1, 2019 in Italy, the family of Joe Pereira from Betalbatim were surprised when the cavalcade carrying late Pope Francis stopped by them, and a Pontifical Swiss Guard lifted three- year-old Vania Pereira from her father’s shoulders and placed her in the Pope’s hands.
“When I was hugged, I was happy to make a new friend. I am sad of what happened, but he will be my friend forever,” says Vania who is now eight and trying to understand the gloom at her residence.
Late Pope Francis touched millions of lives and his touch still reverberates in the Pereira family; memories of that family trip to Vatican City and the encounter with the late Pope Francis bring tears in their eyes.
“I could not believe it when they took my daughter and placed her in his arms. We were praying that we would just be able to see the Pope but I took what happened as a message that life is beyond prayer. It is about being good,” says Vania’s father Joe.
“She (Vania) was very surprised when she was picked up and placed in his Holiness’s arms. ‘I have a new friend, Mama’ were her first words to me after she was handed back,” recollects her mother Natasha.
“I pray that not just my daughter but the whole family gains the strength and courage to reach out to those in need. It is only then that the understanding of being singled out, amongst thousands present to see the Pope, will sink in,” reflects Natasha.
“It had rained heavily the previous day and was cloudy the next day and we were actually just hoping to see the Pope as the weather had not brightened,” recollected elder brother Nathan who recorded his sister’s interaction with the late Pope on his mobile.
“Just being able to see the Pope was an experience worth living for because the man I saw from up close lived a life fighting through God for the poor of the world. He went to countries to experience the pain of the deprived and I am sure, if our government wanted, they could have easily invited him for the Exposition,” thinks Natasha.
“Our late Pope came to countries that were just two hours away from India by flight. For sure, he would have come here to see the relics of St Francis Xavier,” she adds as daughter Vania joyfully interjects saying, “he would have hugged me again.”
“Faith,” according to Vania’s grandmother Carafira, “shows itself in many ways. There was a message for my family from God through that act and it is a lesson that we will never forget.”
“The lesson,” according to Carafira, “is that, prayer is one step that brings us close to God. Being good to others is the next and the best way to keep the memory of this great Pope alive. And it is only after this that we can expect to walk with God forever.”