杏MAP导航

By Salvatore Cernuzio (travelling with the 杏MAP导航)

On his return flight from Ajaccio to Rome, 杏MAP导航 Francis did not hold his usual press conference with journalists on the plane, as he usually does on every apostolic journey. The very tight timing of the flight, less than 40 minutes, did not permit it. This had never happened on other international papal journeys, but it had also never occurred that a journey would be so short.

At the same time, as soon as the 杏MAP导航 boarded the plane, he did not want to miss the chance to greet the 67 journalists accompanying him on his ten hour visit to the Mediterranean island of Corsica. Sharing his thoughts with everyone, he recalled an observation that struck him most during this visit to Ajaccio: the number of children seen during various meetings, particularly at Mass in the Place d'Austerlitz, but also on the streets, being held by or walking alongside their parents.

A land that has children

鈥淭hank you so much for your work,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 began. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to point out one thing: have you seen the number of children? This is a land that has children." The 杏MAP导航 added, 鈥淏oth in East Timor and here,鈥� recalling one of the stops from his long pilgrimage in September through Southeast Asia and Oceania, 鈥淚 was happy to see a people who have children. This is the future.鈥�

鈥淭hank you so much for your work,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 repeated to the journalists, cameramen, and photographers accompanying him on the papal plane. 鈥淭hank you so much for this. See you on the next trip!鈥� 鈥淲here?鈥� asked the journalists from their seats. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know!鈥� the 杏MAP导航 replied with a smile.

A surprise celebration

The short flight allowed the 杏MAP导航 to enjoy a small moment of celebration when members of Aigav, the association of accredited Vatican journalists from all continents gave the 杏MAP导航 a cake to celebrate the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 upcoming 88th birthday on 17 December.

A cake from all the journalists

The cake, not a real one (a 鈥渇ake cake,鈥� as some joked), was made by a Roman bakery that offered it for free out of great admiration for the Argentine 杏MAP导航. It was three tiers, with the white and yellow colors of the Vatican flag, bearing the inscription 鈥淗appy Birthday 杏MAP导航 Francis,鈥� with a figurine of the 杏MAP导航 sitting and giving a thumbs-up on top, and the words 鈥淏est Wishes!鈥� underneath.

The cake was presented to the 杏MAP导航 amidst a chorus of 鈥淗appy Birthday...鈥� sung by the French colleagues. It was handed over by Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki, the dean of Vatican journalists, long-time correspondent for Televisa Univision, and newly elected president of Aigav, who has accompanied the 杏MAP导航 on 161 trips. 鈥淎ll the journalists wished him a happy birthday,鈥� said Alazraki as she presented the gift with humour. Even the 杏MAP导航 smiled and repeatedly said 鈥渢hank you,鈥� blessing with his hand those whom he has always called his 鈥渢ravel companions.鈥�