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Baby From Katy Receives Blessing From Pope Francis in Rome

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Tony Maples Photography

 

While on vacation in Rome, Katy resident Courtney Carter was elated when her 9-month-old baby was chosen out of the massive crowd to receive a blessing from the Pope. The rare, meaningful occasion took place at St Peter’s Square outside of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome in a crowd of around 30,000 people.

Video uploaded on KHOU.com shows a cheerful security guard carrying the baby over to Pope Francis who was standing on his white vehicle addressing the crowd. The baby looked serene as she was whisked back and forth to receive her blessing. She was all smiles in her beautiful white dress when Pope Francis held the back of her head gently to kiss her forehead before whispering a blessing in her ear.

According to the Vatican Radio website, Pope Francis lead the Mass for the Solemnity of Pentecost at 10 a.m. He spoke about unity and forgiveness. An English transcript of his homily reads, “The spirit of forgiveness resolves everything in harmony, and leads us to reject every other way: the way of hasty judgement, the cul-de-sac of closing every door, the one-way street criticizing others.  Instead, the Spirit bids us take the two-way street of forgiveness received and given, of divine mercy that becomes love of neighbour, of charity as ‘the sole criterion by which everything must be done or not done, changed or not changed’ (ISAAC OF STELLA, Or. 31). “