Pope To Family Who Drove 13,000 Miles To See Him: 'You Are Crazy!'
By Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Since March, a family of six has been doing the ultimate road trip, driving from Argentina to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families and the Pope's visit. They said they'd be happy seeing Francis from afar, but boy, did they get a close-up.
"The experience of this family has touched him very much."
And so Pope Francis wanted very much to meet Noel, husband Alfredo, and their four kids, says Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi -- and he did, at St Charles Seminary.
Noel texted and she's Facebooking about it. Pope Francis said, "You are the family who traveled from Buenos Aires? You are crazy!"
Her 12-year-old, Cala, hugged Pope Francis and wouldn't let go.
The Pope telling the family something that we heard a lot during his trip... "I need prayers...pray for me."
He told them he's been following their journey and, as Lombardi says, wants the world to know about it.
"The Pope said to me explicitly to say this, because for him it was a very interesting moment."
As he headed into the seminary chapel the Pope turned back and again said, "You are crazy!"
Noel calls it "the best gift" for their journey of a lifetime.