Pope grants former street children’s wish for meeting before leaving for nunciature

(Updated 2:33 p.m.) Before returning to the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila, Pope Francis met Friday noon with former street children shortly after leading a Mass for bishops and priests at the Manila Cathedral.

The meeting was a private one, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site said on its Twitter account.

It said the media was not allowed to cover the meeting with the children, who are now with Tulay ng Kabataan.

Tulay ng Kabataan is a Manila-based foundation taking care of street children, scavenger children and children in slums.

Pope Francis is having a private meeting with former street kids of @TulayKabataan where media is not allowed #PapalVisitPH #EvenUs

— CBCPNews (@cbcpnews) January 16, 2015
 
 

After the meeting, Pope Francis boarded a black minivan to head back to the Nunciature.


^{YTNK/CBCP News photo}

Last September, street children from Tulay ng Kabataan sent 1,000 letters to the pope through Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

"Dear Holy Father, we are waiting for you!" said one of the children in a YouTube video addressed to the pope.

Pope Francis stayed for about 20 minutes with the children, according to information relayed to the media center at Diamond Hotel.

The kids performed songs and gave the Pope gifts. In return, the 78-year-old Argentinian pontiff blessed the children. — Joel Locsin and Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/LBG/BM, GMA News