A group of pilgrims from Jalisco, Mexico attended Pope Francis' General Audience. And they were able to catch his attention.
POPE FRANCIS
'I warmly welcome the Spanish-speaking pilgrims. And I see that we have some Mexicans present.'
The group was very excited to hear the Pope's impromptu greeting.
GUIDE
'We were overwhlemed with emotion. It is as if he was addressing each one of us. Everyone wanted him to look at us. And we sang and sang trying to get his attention. And he acknowledged us. We are very happy and very proud.'
These pilgrims traveled to Italy with an agency called 'In the Footsteps of Christ.' The group organizes trips to Rome and other religious pilgrimage sites.
This is their first trip after two years due to the COVID pandemic.
MERCEDES COVARRUBIAS
Guide 'In the Footsteps of Christ'
'In 2020, we started to suspend everything. Since March or April, everything had stopped. The truth is that we trust in God. We wait, sometimes patiently and sometimes not so patiently. But, we wait with hope and with the desire to return to these places that are so important for us because, above all, they help us to better know the truths of our faith, to live it, and to be witnesses, which is the most important thing.'
To catch the Pope's attention, the group proudly waved their country's flag and sang traditional Mexican songs known as rancheras.
SO
TR: KG