Singaporean girl, 8, chosen to meet the Pope
How did S'porean girl get to travel to the Vatican to receive a blessing and a hug from the Pope?
Do you know what it is like to hug a pope?
Not many people do, but Faith Ng, eight, does.
"It felt like I was hugging a pillow," she said.
The story of how Faith met the leader of the Roman Catholic Church started with the question: "Why do you need that tall hat?"
She was among a group of children at Church of St. Ignatius who were asked to write a question for the Pope last May.
These were sent to the Vatican, where the Pope lives, and joined those from children all over the world who also asked the Pope a question.
Faith's question was one of 30 picked and published in a book titled Dear Pope Francis, in which the questions are answered by the Pope.
Her mother, housewife Jennifer Tan, 46, said she was tickled by the question, but was not surprised.
"She is very conscious of what people wear... I thought the question was so childlike and decided to just send it in," she said with a smile.To the surprise of both mum and daughter, the publisher, Loyola Press, offered the duo a chance to fly to Rome to meet Pope Francis.
Said Faith excitedly: "My jaw dropped when I found out. It was like going from zero to one million."
On the day she was scheduled to meet the Pope, she shouted "Yay, Pope Francis!" the moment she woke up.
They flew to Rome on Feb 19 and met the Pope on Feb 22 in Paul VI Audience Hall in St Peter's Square.
There were 14 children, aged between five and 13, who were given this opportunity. One parent accompanied each child.
When asked to describe Pope Francis entering the room, Ms Tan said: "Everyone was very nervous during the 30-minute wait, but had a wide, silly smile on their faces."
The Pope walked in with outstretched arms and all the children ran and gave him a big hug.
The children sang the Pope a Spanish song and sat in a semicircle while he addressed all of them. He is an Argentinian who speaks several languages.
Gifts were presented to the Pope one by one.
The gifts included a soccer ball from the US, maple syrup from Canada and Ugg boots from Australia.
Faith gave him a card she made with pressed leaves as "Singapore is clean and green".
Pope Francis had turned the card over to show the rest of the children.
"I was very happy that he liked my card so much," said Faith.
The Pope blessed each child during the hour-long meeting.
After blessing Faith, he presented her with the book and a Jesus the Teacher doll.
"That was my favourite moment of the meeting with Pope Francis because I was right in front of him and he smiled at me," said Faith.
Faith's question: Why do you need that tall hat?
Pope Francis' answer: My tall hat is the symbol that I am a bishop. I put it on for some special occasion and during Mass. Once in a while I change it, but I like the one I had in Argentina, in Buenos Aires. When I would come to Rome before becoming Pope, I would bring two hats: one all white for celebrations with the Pope and my other normal one for some celebrations I had here in Rome. And I still have that hat with me.
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