HOUSTON – As the world continues to mourn Pope Francis’ loss, KPRC 2’s Bill Barajas shared his own story about how he was fortunate to visit Vatican City last year, in what would later turn out to be the last time he’d see the pontiff.
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Of course, this wasn’t Barajas’ first visit to Vatican City.
“I’ve been to Rome several times,” he said. “The first was in 1994, went back in 2003, again in 2009, and again in 2024.”
This last visit was especially memorable because it was also where he’d ask his now-fiancée, Carla, to marry him.
“It was quite the experience to be able to share that with her,“ Barajas said. ”While we were there, just by chance, we learned that Pope Francis was to have a special mass there in Vatican Square, and so we just got lucky and we’re in attendance."
“We only got a few quick glimpses of him, but it was enough to just bring in the excitement of knowing that you were in the same vicinity as the Pope," he added.
He almost came close the first time seeing Pope Francis in February 2016 while in El Paso for KPRC 2’s sister station in San Antonio, KSAT, when he visited Ciudad Juarez.
“It was part of a five-day journey he made to Mexico at the time and during his visit, he spoke about social issues, violence, poverty, and migration, and met with local communities and authorities," Barajas explained. “My photographer and I didn’t get to cross over because of security issues, but it was still just a very surreal experience because folks in the El Paso area were getting ready to see him, and we were fortunate to share their stories.”
But of course, you never forget your first visit in 1994, and for Barajas, it was just as memorable because it linked him closer to his family.
“I was 8 years old at the time, and I was with my parents and my older brother,” he recalled. “My mom happened to be pregnant with my younger brother, who was to be named Juan Pablo, after Pope John Paul, because my father, who worked in the news business here in Houston, was sent to cover the Pope’s visit to San Antonio in 1987.
“He just came away so thrilled with being able to be there and cover that story that he said he wanted to name their third son — if they had one, now we call him John Paul,” Barajas continued. “I don’t think I realized how big the moment was; it was sort of lost on me as a kid, but looking back, it’s a memory that is truly cherished in my family, and I’m so thankful we have pictures to be able to look back on that trip.”
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Looking forward to who will succeed Pope Francis, Barajas remains hopeful for someone who will ensure togetherness.
“I would hope for a leader who embodies the virtues of compassion, wisdom, and leadership, someone who brings unity to Catholics all over the world and to people all over the world,” he concluded.