8-year-old S’porean girl skips school to meet Pope Francis
SINGAPORE – If you could ask the Pope a question, what would it be?





SINGAPORE – If you could ask the Pope a question, what would it be?
For 8-year-old Faith Ng, it was: “Dear Pope Francis, why do you need that tall hat?”
And that was the question that won her an audience with Pope Francis in February at the Vatican.
Faith was among 14 children from 12 countries who were invited to meet with the pope, after they had sent in their questions which were to be a part of a children’s book project.
Faith’s mother, Mdm Jennifer Tan, 46, had submitted her question through their parish, the Church of St Ignatius in May 2015. It wasn’t until December that she received a letter inviting Faith to meet the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Two months later, the Primary 3 CHIJ Kellock student and her mother were on a flight to Rome.
On Feb 22 this year, Faith met Pope Francis in the Paul VI Audience Hall in St Peter’s Square, the papal enclave in Vatican City. But, Faith said, the “tall hat” was not in sight. Instead, Pope Francis was wearing a zucchetto – a form-fitting skullcap.

Mdm Jennifer Tan (in purple) and her daughter, Faith Ng (in blue), meeting the Pope.
According to Faith, Pope Francis broke the ice with a group hug. “When the Pope stepped in, everyone ran to him, including me. When he walked in further to his chair, he said ‘Hi’ and we surrounded him by giving him a group hug,” she said.
“He patted my head super hard when I presented my gift to him (a card with pressed ferns and leaves).”
In the hour-long meeting, the Pope presented the children with his new book that featured their questions, and had let the children ask more questions.
Describing the Pope as “kind”, she added: “He was like a grandfather… When I hugged the Pope, he felt like a pillow… (I felt) like (I was) hugging my soft toy.”
News of Faith’s meeting with the Pope first appeared in the April 3 edition of the Catholic News.
Although Faith had to miss 12 days of school, Mdm Tan said it was worth it as it was a “once in a lifetime opportunity”.
“It’s like a dream come true,” Mdm Tan said.
Observing from the side of the hall, Mdm Tan said the Pope made the effort to make eye contact with all in the room and “didn’t have airs at all”.
Faith added: “Now I know who he is… and I feel that he knows me too. He blessed me.”
Watch footage of the meet here: