Gemma Pompili was 5 years old and had a mission: to hand the Pope a pair of sneakers.
It was 2017, and the Italian Special Olympics team was visiting the Vatican. Among all the athletes, she was the one chosen for the official gesture—the youngest in the group, a girl with Down syndrome who was part of the team. The sneakers were red and bore the organization’s logo, a symbol of the message of inclusion championed by the movement.
Once her task was done, Gemma didn’t leave. She stayed in the chair next to Francis, who continued his speech and, at times, took her hand. The camera captured the scene, and since then the image has circulated on social media millions of times.
And perhaps that’s what makes the image so special: Gemma simply decided to stay a little longer, and Francis made room for her by his side. A small, spontaneous moment filled with tenderness.