There were emotional scenes when
Pope Francis visited one of Rome's most socially deprived
districts on Sunday as the pontiff tried to comfort a boy who
was mourning the loss of his atheist father.
The boy, Emanuele, started to cry during the papal visit to
the parish of San Paolo della Croce in the Corviale district,
and the pope encouraged him to come up and whisper what was
troubling him.
"He is crying for his father," the pope said, adding that he
has asked Emanuele permission to reveal what they had spoken
about.
"His father passed away recently, he was atheist, but he had
all four of his children christened, he was a good man and he
asked if he was in heaven.
"How lovely that a child says that his dad was good.
"It is a beautiful testimony to that man and it is a
beautiful testimony that he had the courage to cry here in front
of us all.
"He did not have the gift of the faith, but he had his
children baptized, he had a good heart and so how would God's
heart be before a father like this?
"God has the heart of a father and before a non-believer dad
who baptized his children, do you think He would be able to
leave him from away from Him?
"No. There you are Emanuele. That is my answer".
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