The Pope’s signature white Fiat 500 made a surprise visit to the Church of St. John Mary Vianney in the suburbs of Rome. Pope Francis greeted a group of 200 children with high fives.
This visit was the first of the Pope’s “School of Prayer” initiative as part of the Year of Prayer leading up to the Jubilee. All of the children are part of catechism groups preparing for their First Communion.
Pope Francis began their meeting by joking with the children.
The Pope then took about an hour answering a number of the children’s questions. He gave a short catechesis on three phrases that deal with relationships with others: thank you, may I and excuse me.
Reflecting on thanking and praying to God, one young girl asked Pope Francis a difficult question.
Another child asked the Pope how he personally thanked God after being elected to the papacy. And he responded with a joke.
At the end of the meeting, the parish hall was filled with the sounds of the children singing.
These visits for the School of Prayer initiative connect the upcoming Jubilee of 2025 with Pope Francis’ Jubilee of Mercy in 2016. That year the Pope also made surprise visits to people living on the outskirts and those facing difficulties.