On a recent visit to the parish of St. Paul of the Cross on the outskirts of Rome, Pope Francis held a Q&A session with children. While most of the child asked questions such as “How did it feel to be elected Pope”, one child, named Emmanuel, holding back tears, asked the Pope a very personal question.

Emmanual approached the microphone to ask his question, paused, and said “I can’t…

After encouragement Papal aids, the little boy still couldn’t muster his question.

Finally, Pope Francis said “Come, come to me, Emanuele, come and whisper it in my ear.”

The child, who was crying sorrowfully at this point, was escorted to the platform where the Pope was sitting. The pope tenderly embraced the child, patted his head and spoke to him. The child finally whispered in his ear the question that was in his heart. After a few moments, the child still crying, went back to his seat.

Pope Francis had asked Emanuele if he could share the question and he agreed. Pope Francis repeated his question “‘A little while ago my father passed away. He was a nonbeliever, but he had all four of his children baptized. He was a good man. Is dad in heaven?”

Watch the emotional moment and Pope Francis’ response below:

“How beautiful to hear a son say of his father, ‘He was good,’” the pope started. “And what a beautiful witness of a son who inherited the strength of his father, who had the courage to cry in front of all of us. If that man was able to make his children like that, then it’s true, he was a good man. He was a good man.

“That man did not have the gift of faith, he wasn’t a believer, but he had his children baptized. He had a good heart,” the Pope said.

“God is the one who says who goes to heaven,” said Pope Francis

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