Cocoa Protasio 49, had the unique opportunity to have a meeting with the Pope Francis In June last year during an event focused on comedians from around the world. She came to know artists of international name as Whoopi Goldberg, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock and Jimmy Fallon but who shone most at the party was the high pontiff.
In an exclusive interview with CNN the actress and humorist is thrilled to talk about the death of Pope Francis, who was announced by the Vatican early in the morning. Cocoa says he had to control tears to express the Holy Father everything he had planned at the meeting.
“Everything came together: emotion, anxiety, gratitude, peace … And I don’t even know if it is sin to say that, but he is the representative of Jesus [na Terra]. It is as if we were talking to Jesus through Him. I took advantage I was there and asked for forgiveness for my sins. He laughed… We sin the beça! The human being is like this. I said, ‘I love you. The Lord is fabulous. I pray every day ‘. And getting close to him is that. The heart overflows. He is love, gratitude, happiness. I felt privileged to be there, in a place that so many people would like to be, ”he describes.
Cocoa declares that he has not reported his trip to the Vatican to anyone so that everything is really right. The actress comments that she felt “welcomed by Jesus” and finds no words to describe this unique moment for a Catholic who likes to pray and has an unshakable faith in the Holy Father.
“It’s such a wonderful feeling, that you just feel. There’s no word. It’s feeling. When I saw the Pope… is to feel that man coming. It’s feeling him talking to you. Feeling, joking … because he played with everyone. Pope is love. Pope is gratitude. It’s just good words.
The artist remembers that she got a rare authorization from the Vatican: wearing white clothes on this meeting with the Pope, something that until then was forbidden. During the conversation with the high Pontiff, Cocoa details that he was able to say everything he wanted in a few seconds and has fun telling that he called the Catholic leader cute.
“I said, ‘I love you so much! Brazil loves you! The Lord is spectacular! The Lord is beautiful, the Lord is cute!’ I don’t even know if I could call him cute… And I said, ‘I pray the third of mercy every day, 15 years ago.’
Like her, several famous people also lamented the pontiff’s death and the humorist states that she is sad to lose such an important leader to Catholics and admirers of other religions, but feels that now he has returned to heaven. It also stresses the importance that the Pope had for marginalized groups from around the world and suffering from all kinds of prejudice such as blacks, people with disabilities, LGBTQIAPN+, fat and all kinds of difference.
“My gratitude for him comes from this place: to know that there is a man who defends me, who speaks ‘if the woman exists, let’s hear.’ Who recognizes that she lives in the world like anyone else – black, white, gay, autistic. He was a welcoming man. The Pope’s existence gave me hope that we can still live in a better world and learn to respect differences.
See the photos of Cocoa Protasio at the Vatican:
This content was originally published in emotional, Cocoa Protasio remembers a meeting with Pope Francis: “He’s Love” on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
