Pope's guests, lodged near the cardinals
At first, Rimaycuna told him via WhatsApp that he would not be able to provide lodging, as everything was fully booked due to the ceremonies taking place at the Holy See during those days.
However, after that, "he sends me a message and tells me that Cardinal Robert has two rooms prepared" for him and his mother, who was accompanying him on the trip.
"We went to the Augustinians' house next to St. Peter's Square, and our first joyful impression came when we saw the room prepared for both of us — it read: 'Guests of Pope Leo XIV,'" he recalled.
According to the parish priest, that courtesy was due to the relationship he established with then-Cardinal Robert Prevost between 2022 and 2023.
At that time, he always showed concern for the Immaculate Parish, Sanchez said.
"He would always call me for lunch, to talk about it — about what the parish was going through. That is when we developed a slightly stronger bond," he explained.
Meeting with the Pope
Sanchez mentioned that, despite his busy schedule, the Supreme Pontiff scheduled a meeting with him and his mother for Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at the Palace of the Doctrine of the Faith. This meeting lasted 20 minutes.
During the gathering, the Pope greeted the parish priest's mother and asked her about the parish’s situation in Chiclayo, Peru.
Sanchez explained that he made the journey to the headquarters of the Catholic Church with his mother because "I wanted to go with her to thank God for a favor regarding her health," he stated.
This trip initially focused on the visit that Sanchez makes periodically to the Virgin of Medjugorje, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was also extended to the sanctuary of the Virgin of Fatima, in Portugal.
Lastly, Sanchez mentioned that on Sunday the Pope’s enthronement ceremony will be held, during which he will receive the symbols of his investiture, including the ring he will wear throughout his tenure.
(END) FGM/MAO/JMP/MVB