Filipina Audrey Abatol went to Portugal anticipating a distant glimpse of Pope Francis, much like her fellow volunteers in the World Youth Day held this year.
Little did she know that she would become one of the select few individuals invited to share an intimate luncheon with the esteemed Pontiff last Friday.
This rare privilege gave the 33-year-old from Mandaue City and nine others to engage in a private dialogue over lunch with Pope Francis, an event that took place on the sidelines of the international gathering held in Lisbon.
Joining her in the once-in-a-lifetime experience were volunteers and pilgrims from Portugal, Peru, United States, Brazil, Equatorial Guinea, Palestine, and Colombia.
“Even though it was short, it was very intimate because we were just very few… It really came as a big surprise for me,” said Abatol as quoted by CBCPNews. The Filipina expressed her gratitude for the close encounter with the Pope, calling it a “grace from God.”
She also recounted gifting the Pontiff with an image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu and the latter’s poignant inquiry when he received it: “Oh, Santo Niño?” The brief exchange made the moment even more meaningful and profound for the Filipina volunteer.
During their interaction, Abatol also took the opportunity to ask for the Pope’s wisdom on spreading joy among young people. His answer deeply resonated with her: “He said ‘joy is not taught but shown’…and that’s what I will bring back with me from this meeting.”
Her lunch with Pope Francis, the conversations that followed, and the lessons she learned starkly contrasted her initial expectations when she volunteered for the WYD International Relations Secretariat in November 2022.
Her unexpected inclusion in the private lunch with the Pope, which was conveyed to her a week prior, was truly a surprise of her lifetime.
