On the verge of turning 99 years old, Trinidad Peralta achieved the dream of her life: touching and kissing Pope Francis during his visit to the northern city of Trujillo last Saturday.
This woman was the main character of one of the most touching scenes from
His Holiness' visit when he approached, spoke, blessed, and —even— gave her a rosary.
The senior citizen from northern Lambayeque region's Tuman district —who lost her sight a few years ago because of glaucoma— had the privilege of stopping Francis' path, so he would meet and talk to her, a mother of 12 children.
Much helped, of course, the great poster her daughter Luz Maria Lora had made with the message to the Holy Father —that Peralta had originally written on a piece of paper by her granddaughter.
Lora realized that it would be very difficult to reach the Pontiff and give him the paper, and even more to get him to read it. That is why she decided to make a big sign that read: "My name is Trinidad. I'm going to turn 99. I can't see. I just want to touch your hand."
The message was more than convincing. Thus, the Supreme Pontiff approached and greeted Peralta by name. He also asked her how many children she had and gave her a rosary in a white box so she could continue praying.
"I said: 'I pray for you every night so that God will give you a longer life to teach all Christians the path of good,'" the lovely woman told Canal N news channel.
"And I felt a lot of emotion because I did not know what to say, as I never thought he would approach me. It was so beautiful, it filled me with emotion," she added.
Peralta will turn 99 on March 15 and already has received the best gift of her life as was Francis' blessing to her and her children.
(END) ART/MVB