Originally published at National Catholic Register
Father Figaredo has spent more than 40 years giving his life to the service of those most in need in Cambodia, especially to people maimed by anti-personnel mine explosions.
Jesuit priest and apostolic prefect of Battambang in Cambodia Father Enrique “Kike” Figaredo this week presented Pope Francis with a wheelchair made by land mine survivors in Cambodia.
The Spanish missionary traveled to Rome from the Southeast Asian country with a special gift for the Holy Father: a Mekong wheelchair, characterized by having three wheels and made of wood.
Father Figaredo, who is in the Eternal City to participate in the Synod on Synodality, had the opportunity to meet with the pontiff early in the morning of Oct. 23.
“It was a wonderful encounter; Pope Francis amazes me. When he saw me, he asked me: ‘Kike, what did you bring me?’” the priest shared with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.
According to the missionary, the Holy Father “was surprised to see the wheelchair and said it looked great.” Later, Father Figaredo showed the Pope some of its features “and he listened very attentively.” The priest made the point that the craftsmen are not “disabled” but rather have “special abilities.”
