Pope Leo XIV Receives Letters from 33 Venezuelan Children During Spain Trip

During his apostolic journey to Spain, Pope Leo XIV received a heartfelt collection of letters from 33 Venezuelan children. The unique exchange took place aboard the ITA Airways plane, facilitated by Venezuelan photojournalist Lola Gómez. Gómez also presented the pontiff with Venezuelan sweets and a photograph of the students from Colegio San Agustín in Caracas.

The children, who are preparing for their First Communion on June 26, expressed their hopes and questions through their written correspondence. One of the letters, penned by young Sofía Victoria Brito, asked the Pope about his faith. Pope Leo XIV responded by sharing that his own connection to God began in his childhood, influenced by his family.

Gómez noted that the delivery of the letters involved some "uncertainty regarding shipping times," but they were successfully handed over just before the Pope continued his official engagements in Spain over the weekend. The encounter offered a touching moment of connection between the pontiff and the children from Venezuela.