Anaiis and her family got up at five in the morning to get a good spot at the Pope's General Audience.
ANAIIS
Mother
So we were on the middle of the way, so we put the children in the middle and then he can touch them, and he blessed them so we are very happy. Very blessful and we are very happy because we wait a long time and we explained all to the children to be quiet and to wait so they were very quiet so we are very happy.
These Germans came dressed in traditional garb to see the Pope.
This group of Italian bakers came to the Audience and gave the Pope an elaborate pastry olive tree, a symbol of peace.
BAKERS
We made this piece with an olive, the olive of piece. Inside the branches of the tree there is a world with a dove above it, a sign of peace, and it seemed like an important message to us in this moment. We wanted to share this small message by giving His Holiness this gift, which is nothing more than an olive tree made by our bakers.
Each group came for different reasons, but in they end they all came looking for the same thing, a personal blessing from the Pope.
Now they will each return home grateful for the opportunity to see him up close.
SO
TR: JM