Out of 300 young Catholics attending a Youth Synod at the Vatican, a young man from American Samoa was chosen to greet Pope Francis upon his arrival at a Pre Synod gathering yesterday.
Paul Collins, the last of the delegates to arrive at the Papal City, was not the original delegate from the Oceania region picked to travel to Rome.
A last minute withdrawal of a youth delegate from the Cook Islands who was suppoed to attend, landed Paul an opportunity that he never dreamed he would have…meeting the Holy Father.
Waiting for the Pope
Paul who is from the Holy Family Parish at Tafuna left for Rome last Friday.
He said he couldn’t believe it when he was selected to welcome the Holy Father upon his arrival at the pre Synod meeting yesterday.
Paul said, “I was just speechless when the security escorted me outside where the Pope arrived.”
The lad, dressed in a red and white elei shirt and cream ie faitaga was up close with Pope Francis while cameras were clicking.
At the pre Synod Pope Francis greeted the hundreds of young people gathered and asked them “to speak bravely” and inject a dose of creativity to a Church “in need of young prophets.”
Paul is in Rome for two weeks and is posting lots of photos and clips on his Facebook page for his family and friends back home.
The son of Nixon and Iulia Collins of Iliili, Paul has been an altar boy, choir conductor, and youth leader in his parish.
The Faasao Marist graduate is also an American Samoa national soccer player.
