‘I’m emotional thinking about it’: Sen. Tim Kaine recounts meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican

For Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2017 was a deeply meaningful experience. 

“It was so striking,” Kaine told 8News. “I’m emotional thinking about it.”

Kaine, a devout catholic himself, met Pope Francis after he gave his typical Wednesday address to those visiting the Vatican. 

“What he does is he delivers a sermon and then they have about maybe 100 people in a rope line that are chosen, and he comes down and visits them,” Kaine said. 

Kaine said he and Pope Francis spoke in Spanish about the refugee crisis in Syria at the time, and at the end, Pope Francis switched to English and asked Kaine to pray for him.

“I had the feeling sort of what he was saying was, ‘hey, you’re a U.S Senator, you have a lot on your shoulders, but I got a lot on my shoulders, and I have a whole lot of people who are expecting an awful lot from me and I’m not sure that I’m up to it, but maybe if you and others pray for me, maybe I will be up to it,” Kaine said.

Kaine left the Vatican that day with memories and a parting gift. 

“He [Pope Francis] gave me a rosary that I have here at my home. I’ll always cherish it,” Kaine said. 

Kaine added that he’ll remember Pope Francis’ compassion and humility, as well as his message to leaders that they shall always stay connected to the people they serve.