They met seven times, Lino Banfi and Pope Francis, A sufficient frequency to establish a relationship of proximity and mutual esteem. Banfi himself told it, a guest of Sunday in in the episode of April 27.
«When I saw it, I told him that I am an actor who did not win many prizes, but my biggest prize are the photos we took together. I met him seven times, I made him smile and move. I made him move when I brought him a message from my wife who said that Pope Francis was closer to God than us ». The actor’s wife, who disappeared in 2023, had entrusted a message to her husband: “Ask him if he makes us die together, we did 61 years of marriage, if we die before or before you are ugly, we are very tied”. Banfi recalled that moment and the emotion of the pontiff after listening to his words: “I worried about having made him move because his eyes filled with tears.”
The Apulian actor published a post dedicated to his wife Lucia Zagaria, who died on February 22, 2023 after having long lived with Alzheimer’s
On that same occasion, however, there was also space to play down. “I told him my desire:” I want to become the pope’s jester, “said Banfi to Francesco. “And what does it mean?” He replied. “It means that when she is cloud calls me, I come here, I make her smile and then I go away.” The Pope laughed at that intent, promoting him “Grandfather of Europe”. A anecdote already known, in reality, dating back to summer 2024, when Banfi was about to become great -grandfather. The “title” of “grandfather of Italy” essentially linked to the role of free grandfather in the series A doctor in the family, He risked becoming too tight on the eve of the arrival of Bisnipotina Matilde Lucia, born on 13 December by his nephew Virginia, daughter of Rosanna Banfi. Thus, when the Pope had known of the imminent happy event he had “promoted” him.
The artist recalled the intensity, goodness and silent strength of Pope Francis, a guide who also inspired his commitment to charity: “I remember when he greeted me by saying” Andrea, why are you ever coming to see me? “”
The relationship between Lino Banfi and Pope Francis also went beyond the visits of the first to the Vatican. They felt by phone, for example on the occasion of their respective birthdays. The actor retains a voice message sent to him by Bergoglio. “It was a message after 3 phone calls I had not replied because he said” unknown “, then Juan Cruz appeared written and a vocal message of the pope who said:” Dear grandfather of the world happy birthday! You are clever eh, you celebrate from 8 to 11, four days of birthday. Thanks many of your testimony of joy, the Lord bless you, please for me and you pray for me. ” The actor did not think that it was the pontiff. “I recalled him thinking it was Mario Lopez who knows how to do his imitation well. I called the number of Juan Cruz and this person replied that he immediately told me: “I pass your friend to you”. And it was truly Pope Francis ».
Source: Vanity Fair
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