AT THE CAPUCHIN DAY CENTRE

The Pope was relaxed as he addressed the centre before spending time shaking hands and spending time with each person.

He told how the work of the friars at the homeless centre makes him think of ‘so many priests who live asking about the life of others’.

‘Your witness, the sign to priests, to listen, to be close, to forgive and don’t ask too much. To be simple, ordinary.’

The Pope also thanked the people who come to the centre each day for their ‘trust’.

Brother Kevin Crowley, the founder of the centre, earlier spoke of the ‘dignity and respect’ for the people who use the centre. He said: ‘That same dignity and respect that you love to see in every family, here in Capuchin Day Centre we are also a family, a family of the poor and marginalised in our society.’

Speaking to the MoS after the Pope left, centre manager Alan Bailey said it was a ‘fabulous’ day.

He said: ‘We were told 20 minutes or half an hour, but he was in no rush. He took the time to greet everyone.’ And he added it was ‘without doubt’ the best day of Brother Kevin’s life.