Pope Francis made a surprise visit to a shanty town on Sunday evening, February 9, during a visit to a parish on the outskirts of Rome.

While traveling to the parish of San Michele Arcangelo, the Pope stunned the people of the shanty town known as Campo Arcobaleno when he stepped out of his car and spent about 10 minutes mingling with the residents. The people of Campo Arcobaleno, many of them immigrants from South America, shouted their welcome in Spanish. The residents were completely surprised by the visit.

Continuing on to the church of San Michele Arcangelo, the Holy Father met with the parents of newly baptized children, and said that he worried about the number of Catholic children who do not know basic prayers. Later, speaking to older children, he said that the Devil is the origin of hatred, of dishonesty, and of war.

During his homily at a Mass celebrated in the parish, the Pope encouraged the faithful to spend a few minutes every day reading the New Testament. “Have this daily contact with the Gospel,” he said. “Pray with the Gospel.”

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