ECATEPEC, Mexico – Pope Francis continues to touch hearts and lives on his historic trip to Mexico. That includes a 5-year-old boy from Sealy with cancer, as well as a crowd with several hundred thousand followers.
The crowd, impressive to witness firsthand, was amazing even from afar. An estimated 500,000 people to see Pope Francis were in the troubled municipality of Ecatepec. But they're drawn to the pope for a special reason: his desire to come to them.
"Because of his personality," said Martin Rafael of Mexico City. "Because he likes to be very close to the people here in Mexico, so that's why we love him."
One young man who got a firsthand experience with Francis was 5-year-old Ricky Padilla of Sealy. Ricky traveled to Mexico City with his mother, Belen, to be blessed by the pope. He's been battling a brain tumor for a year and a half, dealing with chemotherapy and other tough treatments along the way. Ricky was not only blessed by the pope Sunday at a children's hospital, the pope blessed him at another meeting Saturday.
"The pope touch," recalled Belen "And I say, 'Thank you, God. Thank you.'"
The Padillas will head back home to Sealy and to MD Anderson Cancer Center, where Ricky will continue his treatments. But they return with renewed faith after their personal encounters with Pope Francis in Mexico City.
"I got more faith," said Ricky's mother. "And I say, 'Ricky today have healed -- is healed.'"
Ricky's mother said this is a weekend she obviously will never forget and believes the pope's blessing will have a healing impact on all those they come into contact with.