Visiting one of his own

At 4:00pm today in Rome, the Holy Father, Pope Francis paid a pastoral visit to the Parish of Saint Gregory the Great on the Magliana in the western section of the Diocese of Rome.

Upon his arrival, the Pope greeted the faithful who were gathered in the courtyard outside the church, including children and young adults who were gathered on the sports field, then the sick and the elderly and finally those who are engaged to be married and couples who have recently had their children baptized.  His Holiness then met with various social groups from within the territory of the parish who were also present.  He then heard the confessions of a few of the parishioners.

Finally, the Pope presided at the celebration of the Mass, at the end of which he greeted the families of the priests who are assigned to that parish.