These photos of a boy and Pope Francis might restore your faith in the Catholic Church

[rug]

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis touches a boy’s head, no name available, as he delivers his speech during an audience with families in St. Peter’s Square gathered for the Pontifical Council for the Familyís plenary assembly, at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. A young boy, part of a group of children sitting around the stage where the pontiff was delivering his message to families, played around Pope Francis as he continued delivering his speech, occasionally patting the boy’s head. (AP Photo/L’Osservatore Romano, ho)

By Elizabeth Tenety
October 30 at 11:36 am

Okay, so maybe your faith in humanity didn’t need to be restored. Or maybe you already had faith in the Catholicism. Or maybe you didn’t. Or maybe you see the photos below and are still not about to join the Roman Catholic Church. But whatever you believe, it’s true that social media is buzzing today with with “awws” and “awesomes” about Pope Francis’s spontaneous moment welcoming a young boy on stage over the weekend. When the boy appeared during Pope Francis’s presentation during a summit on the family Saturday, the pope welcomed him gently, even seating him atop the papal chair when security was unable to shoo the child offstage.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/10/30/these-photos-of-a-boy-and-pope-francis-might-restore-your-faith-in-the-catholic-church/

Video at link.

[randr]

1. How could that possibly restore a faith in the church I never had to start with?

This image conjures dark thoughts however.
An innocent child has blind faith and an open heart to start with. I believe there is a christian quote about that.

[rug]

2. For starters, it may cause you to re-examine your reflexive stances.

[Sedona]

3. No, it just reminds this recovering Catholic why she left the church to begin with

[rug]

4. Why was that?

[Sedona]

5. Look at the picture in the OP

should be pretty self explanatory.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

7. If you are thinking of pedophilia

Then you have an overly nasty mind.

The boy is just being a small boy, and the Pope is clearly pleased that he should do so.

[Sedona]

8. I can't think of the church and NOT think of pedophilia

and its not the result of MY nasty mind. Its the result of decades of open and encouraged pedophilia at the highest reaches of the Catholic Church.

[No Vested Interest]

9. I think you are in the wrong group here on DU.

I personally love these photos of Pope Francis and the little boy in yellow.
I believe his name is Didier; he is an orphan from Colombia, adopted by an Italian family.
Apparently, adoptees were invited to this Family event, and the children were seated in the first row, the parents were further back. That explains how this winsome child wandered onto the podium with the Pope.

I have seen much of the video of Didier's time on the podium, including his climbing onto the papal chair.
It is all so charming and the talk of many throughout the world. It was even featured on the evening news a night or two ago.

[demosincebirth]

10. I think, definitely, you are in the wrong group.

[goldent]

6. Great Story! n/t