A proud mum told last night how Pope Francis ‘doubled back’ to bless their child in one of his last acts just hours before he did.
The ailing Pontiff was captured as he experienced his ‘one last ride’ in St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, following a brief appearance on the Basilica’s balcony to greet well-wishers and express a ‘Happy Easter’ message.
While driving through the crowds, the Pope was approached by at least four babies seeking his blessings, a customary practice when he tours St Peter’s Square in his iconic Popemobile.
The Daily Mail has revealed that the final baby blessed by the Pontiff was Tommaso Barbero, born on January 30, who was present in St Peter’s Square with his parents, Niccolo and Anastasia Balestriero.
The couple are from Monferrato near Alessandria, northern Italy, and were in Rome for the Easter break when the ailing Pontiff drove through St Peter’s.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Anastasia said: ‘It’s all been a bit of a shock, and we still can’t believe what happened. One moment we were so elated because the Pope had stopped to bless Tomasso and then hours later we heard he had died.
‘We go to St Peter’s every year for the Easter blessing and we saw the Pope on the balcony but didn’t think he would come out among the crowds but he did, and he was driving back to the Vatican when he doubled back for a last time.
‘He was going up Via della Concilazione and the security teams were making a path so I asked one of them if he would take Tomasso to the Pope and he said ‘It will be up to him’ so we waited and then all of a sudden Pope Francis stopped.
Pope Francis spent his final day celebrating Easter Sunday with Catholic faithful in St Peter’s Square
Now the Daily Mail has established the final one, was Tommaso Barbero, who was born on January 30, and was in St Peter’s Square with his dad Niccolo and mother Anastasia Balestriero (both pictured)
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni pays respect to the body of Pope Francis at the St. Peter’s Basilica on April 23, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican
People queue to enter the Vatican, as Pope Francis lies in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, in Rome, Italy, April 23, 202
‘He beckoned for the baby to be brought to him and the guard picked him up and carried him towards the Pope and he blessed him, I was in tears and so were the people around me, we couldn’t believe it.’
Teacher Anastasia, 44, added: ‘When he is older, I will tell him all about what happened, that he was chosen among thousands of other, it wasn’t luck.
‘There really is much more to this because Tomasso is our second child and we had hoped for another for so long but hadn’t had any luck and then he came along.
‘My husband and I are both believers and behind such a emotional gesture, there is a grander design, bigger than any of us.’
TV pictures showed the Popemobile slowing down, and stopping just as the vehicle reached the top of the Via della Conciliazione.
A bodyguard is then seen walking towards the 35,000 crowd and picking up Tommaso who is asleep and then carrying him towards the Pope who blesses the baby.
Tomasso is then handed back to his parents – the last baby to be blessed by him – and less than 24 hours later Pope Francis died at the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican.
Anastasia added:’We didn’t expect him to come through the crowds, it was just so busy. It was just so totally unexpected and a combination of so many things.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Anastasia said: ‘It’s all been a bit of a shock, and we still can’t believe what happened’
Teacher Anastasia, 44, added: ‘When he is older, I will tell him all about what happened, that he was chosen among thousands of other, it wasn’t luck’
‘My husband and I are both believers and behind such a emotional gesture, there is a grander design, bigger than any of us’, the mother said
People queue to pay respects as the body of Pope Francis lies in state inside St. Peter’s Basilica in The Vatican, on April 23, 2025. The Pope died of a stroke on Easter Monday
People queue to pay their respect to the late Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025
‘I still can’t get over how the Pope stopped to bless Tomasso and then he died less than a day later, it’s really shocked me.’
Anastasia, whose eldest son is called Domenico, and her graphic designer husband Niccolo, 44, were in the front row of the crowd, and she had rested her baby on the barrier as he slept.
She explained that Tomasso’s grandmother lives in Rome and she aways brought her family to visit her when she could.
Anastasia added:’ I just can’t believe it happened. It was a totally unexpected blessing. When we saw the Pope he didn’t look at all well but I got the feeling he came through the crowd to say ‘Look, I’m doing OK’.
‘He wasn’t smiling as he usually does, and that’s why his gesture really surprised me, he could have just chosen to wave but instead he stopped and blessed my child.
‘I shall never forget it.’
