Bello said he decided to send a letter to Pope Francis after feeling the desire in his heart. “I thought, why not? Pope Francis has told us to pursue our dreams.”
“When I received the [pope’s] response I was filled with joy,” the Catholic priest said, noting that he had to read the letter several times before reality sank in.
The young adults from Mexico, who are 18–35 years old, are associated with the Regnum Christi Federation. The group of 50 is led by Bello, Brother Adrián Olvera, and three women consecrated with Regnum Christi: Cecilia Canovas, Andrea Infantozzi, and Trisha McClellan.
McClellan told CNA the visit to the pope was “a huge surprise,” especially because Bello didn’t tell the group what was happening until just after Mass and before the visit.
The consecrated woman, who is originally from Akron, Ohio, explained that they had no idea whether the meeting would just be a wave and a handshake or something more.
In the end, Pope Francis spent about 25 minutes in conversation with the young people, who are mostly from Mexico, in a receiving room in the Vatican guesthouse where he lives.
