A Divine Encounter: My Day at the Vatican with Pope Francis

One day, in the quiet of my studio, I received a letter that would change my life. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the name on the envelope: His Holiness Pope Francis. My legs were shaking; it almost felt like a dream, but reality was even more extraordinary. I opened the letter, and the words had been written by him personally.

Some time earlier, an association had asked me to write to the Pope and explain my work as a dermopigmentation artist, which focuses on the person, on their insecurities and fears and on the wish to restore beauty lost to imperfections. It was work that in some way contributed to people's well-being, and Pope Francis is very sensitive to such aims.

I described my work in the letter and received an incredible reply. His Holiness invited me to the Vatican to meet him in person. I could not believe the good fortune knocking at my door.

On a special Wednesday I went to the Vatican with my family. We were seated in the front row, among thousands of people who had come from all over the world to receive the Pope's blessing. It was a wave of incredible emotions.

Then, at last, I saw Pope Francis. Tears streamed from my eyes as I watched him with admiration. After the celebration, he came by each of us personally. When he shook my hand and gave me his blessing, he said: "Keep doing what you are doing. I appreciate it, God appreciates it, pray for me."

It was an extraordinary experience, a meeting with the Pope I had always imagined, the good Pope we all know. I wanted to share this extraordinary life experience with you, a moment that will stay with me forever.