Newborn Simona and 9-year-old Charo–daughters of Pope Francis’ long-time friends during his time in Buenos Aires–were baptized by the Holy Father during a last-minute visit to the Eternal City.
According to the Italian blog Il Sismografo, just days ago in his residence Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis baptized the children of Lucas and Ana Schaerer. They had been very active members of the «Alameda» Foundation–a non-profit organization well-known for fighting against human and drug trafficking, a charitable organization which then-Cardinal Bergoglio had supported.
Argentine Journalist Mercedes Ninci, known for working on «El Diario de Mariana» of Argentina’s Radio Mitre, was the proud godmother of the baby. A friend of the couple and the Pope, Ninci said in comments posted on the Italian blog, the baptism was «an extraordinary and moving experience.»
She had made the trip from Buenos Aires to Rome with the family. They all arrived in Rome on August 5th and returned to their native city by the 10th.
Ninci noted how this Baptism within the Vatican all came to be rather suddenly. With Francis’ help, she noted the family was able to stay in a convent whose nuns welcome pilgrims.
«It was a beautiful and simple ceremony,» the journalist underscored, noting the Pope celebrated Mass for them and then they all moved to a small room where they went on to talk for a long time. (D.C.L.)
