A boy once asked Pope Francis if his 'atheist Dad' is in heaven. The Pope's beautiful reply left him in tears

Pope Francis had a teary encounter with a young boy named Emanuele in 2018 during a visit to St. Paul of the Cross Parish in Rome, where the pope was meeting with children and taking questions from the audience. It was part of a community outreach effort that allowed young parishioners to speak with the pontiff directly. After the pope passed this week at age 88, the video has resurfaced — and with it, one of the most emotionally raw memories of his papacy.

Emanuele approached the microphone but couldn't speak through his tears. He wanted to ask something, but emotion stopped him short, as shown in the YouTube video by ROME REPORTS in English. Upon seeing this, Pope Francis called out to him, saying what loosely translates to, "Come, come to me, Emanuele. Come and whisper it in my ear." Emanuele walked onstage and leaned into the pope’s embrace. The church grew quiet as the two spoke privately for a few moments, their heads nearly touching. Pope Francis then asked the boy for permission to share what he had said. Emanuele agreed.

"He told me, 'Not long ago, my father died. He was an atheist but he baptized his four children. He was a good man. Is Dad in heaven?'" the pope shared with the crowd. Francis paused before continuing, clearly moved by the boy’s grief. He then addressed the crowd, saying, "If only we could cry like Emanuele when we have pain in our hearts. He cried for his father. He had the courage to do it in front of us. because there is love in his heart for his dad." The pope then spoke more directly to Emanuele’s concern. He said, "It's nice a son says that about his father, that 'he was a good man.'"

Francis asked the crowd, "Do you think God would ever leave a man like him far from him? Does God abandon his children?" The crowd shouted back, "No!" Turning back to Emanuele, Francis added, "This is the answer, Emanuele. Surely God was proud of your father. Because it is easier, being a believer, to baptize your children than to baptize them when you are not a believer. And your father had the courage to do that." He then encouraged the boy to continue honoring his father in prayer. "Pray for your father. Speak to your father," he told him.

It was one of many moments throughout his papacy that reflected Pope Francis’s deep tenderness toward others. That same sense of tenderness was visible years earlier during Pope Francis’s 2015 visit to the United States, as reported by Fox 5. He was warmly welcomed in Washington, D.C., where he met with President Obama, addressed Congress, and greeted thousands who lined the streets. His visit included stops at churches, charities, and public events, reflecting his commitment to the poor, the vulnerable, and the common people. Among those deeply moved was six-year-old Karlena Somerville, who received a blessing from the pope at Joint Base Andrews. Her father, a Catholic deacon, said the moment showed how much the pope valued those with special needs. "He was always welcoming and paid attention to you as he talked to you," said Monsignor Walter R. Rossi, who hosted him in D.C. The pope's passing has left a deep unquiet in our hearts, as we mourn the loss of a tender, kind, and genuine soul.