Nelson Morales

A zucchetto from the Pope that changed this boy’s life

Article (news)

Rose Eclarinal

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17465388735421c92f1f4-c87d-488a-b89b-789ce6bf371e.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>VATICAN CITY – Against the iconic backdrop of St. Peter’s Basilica, and with final preparations in full swing for the much-awaited conclave on May 7, 13-year-old Simone Gabriele Caalaman recalled his face-to-face encounter with Pope Francis during a school visit to the Vatican in 2019.</p><p>A top-performing student at a school in Rome, Simone—a precocious Filipino boy whose parents migrated to Italy for a better life—was chosen by his school to speak with the Pope.</p><p>“It was a big privilege,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/4/21/pope-francis-beloved-lolo-kiko-to-filipinos-has-passed-away-vatican-1603">Pope Francis, beloved ‘Lolo Kiko’ to Filipinos, has passed away: Vatican</a></div><p>He described how thrilling it was to see the Pope in person, someone he had only seen on television wearing a special skullcap, or zucchetto.</p><p>“When I finished my speech, the Pope patted me two or three times on the head, and then he took off his zucchetto and placed it on my head. I was frozen for a moment: He gave me a signature piece of his attire,” he recalled.</p><p>After receiving the unexpected gift, Simone, who also loves reading, became an ardent researcher on all things related to the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope.</p><p>“When I’m not studying, I look up random things about church vestments, church history, and other peculiarities of the Roman Church. I dare say, it’s very refreshing,” he said.</p><p>Simone also believes that after receiving the zucchetto, his family began to receive more blessings.</p><p>“It was the intercession,” he said.</p><p>“It deepened our faith and, I would say, helped us more because we prayed more. I prayed more, trusted more in God, and read scripture more,” he added.</p><p>His father, Christian Caalaman, showed us the special box where they keep the Pope’s zucchetto. He confirmed their family belief that more blessings came, especially financially.</p><p>As the conclave begins, Simone has researched every one of the 133 cardinal-electors who will vote for the next Pope.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/4/22/conclave-the-secretive-process-of-electing-a-pope-1350">Conclave: The secretive process of electing a pope</a></div><p>His only wish: for them to choose the right leader for the Church, someone who listens to the Holy Spirit.</p><p>“What I humbly ask God to give us through the cardinal-electors is a Pope who is compassionate and has great religious zeal.”</p><p>Simone and his family feel deeply blessed to have received such a rare and personal gift from Pope Francis.</p><p>He says he will keep the zucchetto safe—until the day Pope Francis becomes a saint—when it may become a firsthand relic of the 266th Pontiff.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/25/pope-francis-passing-revives-memory-of-life-changing-blessing-for-filipino-family-1531">Pope Francis&#x27; passing revives memory of life-changing blessing for Filipino family</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FNAsxZsuVrQ?si=fr7rir-sqEp0pbz7" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>He described how thrilling it was to see the Pope in person, someone he had only seen on television wearing a special skullcap, or zucchetto.</p>

He described how thrilling it was to see the Pope in person, someone he had only seen on television wearing a special skullcap, or zucchetto.