2 kids get first hug from Pope Francis

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – President Benigno Aquino III welcomed Pope Francis on Thursday, January 15, as the Argentine pontiff arrived to a warm welcome at the Villamor Airbase.

Two Filipino children were the first to get a warm hug from the charismatic Pope after the arrival honors shortly before 6 pm. The kids, a boy and a girl, gave Francis a bouquet of flowers.

Mark Angelo Balbero, 10, one of the two children who joined dignitaries in welcoming the Pope, earlier told Rappler: “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa dinami-dami ng tao sa Pilipinas, ako ang napili (I’m very thankful. I got picked from among all the people here in the Philippines. He brought a sampaguita garland for the Pope. (READ: The first children to greet Pope in Manila)

Balbero and his 6 siblings were abandoned by their mother in 2013 and have been under the care of Tulay Foundation.

His wish to the Pope, he said, is to pray that his mother would keep her promise and come back for them. “Nagpaalam po siya sa amin na babalik daw siya kapag nakaipon na siya ng pera (She told us that she would come back once she has saved enough money).”

The other child is Lanie Ortilla, 9. Her wish? That she can go to school.

The Sri Lanka plane carrying the Pope and his entourage landed at 5:32 pm.

Church bells tolled across the nation.

He spent about 30 minutes at the airbase, greeting dignitaries and well-wishers, among them 24 government and Catholic Church officials.

When Francis saw Manila Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, he embraced him. (We earlier reported that Cardinal Tagle is a Jesuit. He is a Jesuit-trained diocesan priest. We regret the error.)

The Pope rode the popemobile at 6:18 pm. As of 6:43 pm, the Pope’s motorcase was on Roxas Boulevard, on its way to the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila. – Rappler.com