These 50 Mexicans have traveled to Rome to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their parish. They come from Michoacan, and are returning the pope's visit he made to Morelia in February 2017.
'We saw him only two or three meters away today. He was in Morelia with us last year in February.'
'We are a group of people from different places in Michoacan. For many of us, it's a dream to be here in Rome. We really wanted to be here and see Pope Francis.'
'We hope he prays for the Mexican people, for the Mexican territory and for world peace. We pray for him.'
'On December 3, 2017, we celebrated 50 years of being a parish at The Holy Child of Health, which is also a Sanctuary.'
'Rome is very dear to us; we carry it in our hearts; it is the center of our faith. There is Pope Francis, a charismatic pope, and this we cannot leave all this locked up in our hearts.'
To celebrate their participation in the General Audience and seeing the pope up close, they sing 'Cielito Lindo.'
Many of the people who traveled in this trip are retired. They came to Rome to experience one of the greatest journeys of their lives.
'It didn't cost me too much of my savings because I received a settlement for my retirement that helped me come. Here I am, living this dream. I am fascinated.'
'Most of us are retired and we have come to offer this trip to Our Lord, to thank Him. Also, to be in Rome with Pope Francis we want to ask him for peace in Mexico. We are very happy to be here and the Lord is blessing us.'
'I received my husband's retirement money after he died. We came here together when we got married and it was a blessing because our marriage lasted 49 years. So I come here to thank the Lord for what He gave us.'
Before returning to Mexico, they will take advantage of being on this side of the world and will travel to the Holy Land. They will surely return home very happy, with Roman memories overflowing in their hearts.
