Jesus expresses special concern for the "little ones” who believe in him this Sunday. Pope Francis motioned for 5-year-old Sophie Cruz to come to him on her second attempt to approach him during his motorcade on Tuesday. Cruz, the daughter of two undocumented immigrants, wanted to deliver a letter to Francis after becoming scared that her parents could be deported. Unlike her parents, she and her sister are American citizens. “She lives it every day,” her father, Raul Cruz, said in Spanish. “She sees family get separated, and we always tell her the truth when she asks why.” The crowd cheered as security personnel lifted Cruz up to the pope and he kissed her cheek and accepted her letter.

Homily hint: It is the unscripted moments that sometimes capture the spirit of a papal visit. Pope Francis’ insistence in having a child come to him reveals his spirit of welcome and embrace. Let us all live our faith in similar fashion.

For more on the story of Sophie Cruz and the pope, see: Meet Sophie Cruz, 5-year-old who gave the pope a letter because she doesn’t want her parents deported