An Oklahoma teen, Braden Cusick, celebrated his 18th birthday in Rome with a once-in-a-lifetime moment, receiving a personal blessing from Pope Leo XIV during a family trip to the Vatican.
A Special Encounter
Cusick and his family woke up early and headed to the Vatican, securing seats near the aisle to increase their chances of meeting the pope. When the moment arrived, Cusick said, ‘Holy Father, it’s my birthday.’ The pope responded warmly, saying, ‘Oh, happy birthday,’ before asking Cusick how old he was and where he was from.
The pope also gifted Cusick a rosary, adding to the unforgettable experience. Cusick said, ‘I could barely open the rosary box to see because I was, like, still shaking from meeting him because I could not believe it.’ Now back home and starting his senior year of high school, Cusick said his classmates have been eager to hear about his experience.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
