From our correspondent in Baku,

Fr Rastislav Hamracek SDB

Before leaving for other appointments, the Pope rested a little in the room prepared for him. Then the Holy Father stopped briefly to greet the whole Salesian Family present. The Apostolic Prefect in Azerbaijan, Fr Vladimir Fekete, SDB, introduced the community, the Sisters and the young people to Pope Francis, one by one. Speaking "face to face" with the three Salesian Brothers of the community, the Holy Father expressed words of encouragement: "The Brothers are the pillars of the house."

At the end, about thirty young people from the Salesian centre in Baku assembled to greet the Pope in the parking lot and cheered with the traditional chorus: "Pa-pa-Fran-ces-co!"

Fr Martin Bonkalo was the Salesian who translated the words of the Pope into Azeri during his visit to Baku. At the end of a day when they had been so close to the Holy Father, Fr Martin shared his experience by saying: "He is a true Father, who knows how to treat others as his children."

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