Pope Visits Home for Elderly During Visit to Belgium

Pope Francis made a quick trip to a poor neighborhood of Brussels on Friday to visit a residence for the elderly.

As he was driven through the streets of the Marroles, one woman dropped to her knees and called out to Francis “pray for me, pray for me,” then stood up and said “Amen,” as he passed and waved to her.

Another group gathered around his car and took photos as he shook hands.

In her hurry to get close to the Pope, one woman rushed out of a hairdresser’s straight to the Pope’s window with red hair dye still on her head.

The Pope’s little, white car then pulled up at the Home Saint-Joseph where nuns from the Sisters of Charity waited with dozens of elderly people lined up in wheelchairs who cheered and sang as the Pope entered.

“Pray for me,” the Pope said in French, “every day, every day” a nun responded enthusiastically.

A caretaker also helped the pontiff to greet a 102-year-old man, a resident of the home.

The Marolles is the quintessential Brussels neighborhood at the heart of the city where long poverty reigned among fiercely independent men and women.

The rough edge of the city with increased drug abuse and homelessness now lives side by side with a young and gentrified city elite among renewed antique stores and fine restaurants.

Pope Francis is on a four day trip to Luxembourg and Belgium.