Blessed are the poor and homeless
Aidan, 64, describes moment he came face to face with Pope Francis
A MAN who eats his dinner at the Capuchin Day Centre each day told the Irish Mail on Sunday how meeting the Pope was ‘beautiful’.
Speaking excitedly moments after Pope Francis left the centre Aidan Walsh said he even managed to get a photograph with the Pontiff.
‘I got him to turn around for the photograph,’ he said. ‘I got to shake his hand and I said to him you’re doing a great job, keep up the good work and I hope you do well for many years to come.’
The 64-year-old, who suffers from ill health, revealed that he got the impression the Pope understood what he was saying to him, despite having relatively poor English.
‘He wasn’t able to talk English, but he did make time for me,’ said Aidan. ‘He made time for everyone, he treated everyone with respect.
‘It was a good moment, I am 64 now and I have waited a long time to see the Pope. It was a long time coming, and I didn’t expect it to happen. If it wasn’t for Brother Kevin and Brother Sean [Donohoe] it wouldn’t have happened.’
Aidan admitted he originally turned down the opportunity to meet the Pope because he’s a ‘new guy’ at the centre.
He said: ‘Brother Sean asked me about a month ago and I turned it down. I didn’t think I should be there at all because I am only a couple of years there. I said it wasn’t fair because I am only a new guy coming here.
‘I go every evening for my dinner, for a couple of years now. I got very ill – I had clots in my leg and my hands and I got operations on my neck. I am ill and I’d like to work again, but I can’t.
‘I travel to the centre with my bus pass. They do great work there and if it wasn’t for them, we would not be where we are today. It was a beautiful day.’
Thinking ahead, Aidan revealed he had set the News to record before leaving home that morning so he could watch it back later.
‘Good move on my part, hey,’ he laughed.
Moments earlier, Pope Francis told how the work at the Capuchin Day Centre, situated in Dublin city centre, touched his heart because ‘you don’t ask for anything here’. He added: ‘You accept life as it comes and if you need to, you forgive.’
The excitement at the centre was palpable as the clock ticked slowly down to the Pope’s arrival yesterday afternoon.
Friars and volunteers have eagerly spent the last number of weeks preparing for the historic visit and, by all accounts, it lived up to their expectations.
‘I’m ill – but he made time for everyone’