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(CNN Spanish) – Every time Pope Francis arrives at a public event, one can expect a surprise. Whether it be the messages he will deliver or the actions he will share: hugging children, wearing the gifts given to him, welcoming the sick and the disabled. All situations seem conducive to doing something that makes a difference, a path that began the day he chose his name as pontiff in 2013: it is the first time that a pope has chosen “Francis” and he did so in honor of Francis of Assisi.
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But that was just the first step. In fact, on the last day of his visit to Chile in 2018, he attracted attention for marrying a couple of flight attendants while on the plane that was taking him from Santiago to Iquique.
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The Pope’s touching, funny and disconcerting gestures have characterized his pontificate. Which ones have been the most surprising? Here are 11 moments that baffled Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
1. Helping an injured police officer in Chile
The wedding in the air was not the only episode that Francis was involved in in Chile. When he was in Iquique, he got out of his popemobile to help an injured policewoman who fell from her horse after colliding with the vehicle in reverse. The pontiff got out and walked with the aim of helping the woman, while an ambulance approached.
2. Allowing a blind girl to experience it with her hands:
This is a touching moment in every sense of the word: on May 4, 2016, Francis stopped his popemobile to approach a blind girl who, after being lifted into the arms of security agents, touched the pontiff’s face and he returned the gesture. The ACI Prensa agency was able to capture this moment on video:
3. Kiss one of the posts at the Auschwitz concentration camp:
On July 29, 2016, the pontiff arrived at the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz and after praying for a long time at the place where the torture took place, he kissed one of the posts, as reported by ACI Prensa. He also touched the “wall of death” and wrote in the souvenir notebook of the Auschwitz Museum: “Lord, have mercy on your people! Lord, forgive all the cruelty (sic),” was his message.
4. Receive the blessing of a girl in Colombia
On September 9, when the Pope was visiting the Hogar San José in Medellín as part of his apostolic trip to Colombia, a little girl had enough confidence to approach him, hug him and give him her blessing. Francis’ reaction was summed up in a smile.
We are used to seeing @Pontifex_es blessing people, but this little girl was ahead of us. How much children teach us! #ModoPapa #ElPapaCol pic.twitter.com/8h3YPk4zUk — Bárbara Bustamante (@BarbarabustS) September 9, 2017
5. Taking a selfie with a disabled young man in Ecuador
At the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, during his visit to the country in July 2015, a disabled young man approached the pope and asked to take a selfie. Francis’ reaction was to lean over, put his face next to the young man’s and smile, according to ACI Prensa.
6. Greet deaf people in sign language
In May 2016, Francis made a touching gesture from his popemobile to the pilgrims of the National Council for the Deaf who were in St. Peter’s Square. He raised his arms and waved his hands, greeting them affectionately, the ACI Prensa agency reported at the time.
(Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/ACI Press)
7. Sharing your birthday with homeless people
When the pope turned 77 on December 17, 2013, he had only been head of the Church for a few months. He decided to mark the occasion by inviting four homeless people to the 7 a.m. Mass at the Santa Marta house and then having breakfast with them. The people were chosen from among the homeless people living outdoors in the neighborhood surrounding the Vatican.
8. Washing the feet of 12 young prisoners
On Holy Thursday 2013, the Pope celebrated Mass with the young offenders at the Casal del Marmo centre, breaking with tradition. As part of the celebration, he washed the feet of 12 of the prisoners.
READ: Pope asks for forgiveness for abuse of minors by Chilean clergy
Now, Francis has not only been characterized by his compassionate and moving gestures. There have also been moments of humor.
9. “With tequila or without tequila?”
The answer that Francis gave on January 1, 2016 to a Mexican pilgrim who was in St. Peter’s Square left several people speechless. The man told him, as reported by ACI Prensa, “We are waiting for you in Mexico. Welcome, Pope, in February to Mexico!”, referring to the apostolic visit that the pontiff would make to that country. And what the pope answered provoked laughter: “With or without tequila?”
10. The laughs when a girl tried to steal his hat
In March 2017, the Pope witnessed first-hand the audacity of a three-year-old girl: she tried to steal his hat. When Francis approached to greet her, the little girl had no problem snatching the item of clothing from him. The reaction? The pontiff laughed.
11. Greet a child dressed as a mini-potato
In February 2014, Francis stopped to greet a little boy dressed like him. While taking the traditional ride through St. Peter’s Square in his popemobile, he noticed the baby who, according to ACI Prensa, was wearing a skullcap and a white suit. The pontiff blessed the child, asked for him to be brought to him, tried to pick him up and kissed him, but the child’s crying led to him being quickly returned to his relative.
