On July 26, 2013, at the age of 9, Nathan de Brito broke through the security barrier on the streets of Rio de Janeiro and reached the papamobile carrying Pope Francis. He embraced the Pope and expressed his desire to become a priest. Ten years later, he is now attending the propaedeutic seminary of the Archdiocese of Campo Grande. For Nathan, “reminiscing about that encounter always rekindles the flame of his vocation.”
An article by ACI Digital recounts and commemorates the event. Pope Francis visited Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day (WYD) 2013. It was his first international trip following his election as Pope in March of that same year. The photo of Nathan embracing Pope Francis quickly went viral.
“It’s an emotional topic for me to discuss. It has been ten years since that pivotal moment in my life. Of course, it wasn’t the awakening of my vocation since I had long aspired to become a priest. However, it certainly provided an additional motivation within my calling,” Nathan said in an interview with ACI Digital.
Nathan shared that from a young age, he had a desire to become a priest. “I enjoyed playing Mass and attending church services.” At the age of five, he began serving as an altar boy in Cabo Frio, where he resided with his family. “I served as an altar boy for many years, and I found great joy in it. I was also deeply passionate about catechesis and eagerly awaited receiving the sacraments. I have vivid memories of my First Communion, which was the happiest day of my life,” he recalled.
As time passed, Nathan nurtured a deep affection for the Church and a strong desire to pursue priesthood. “I always emphasize that my calling is to strive for holiness. We are all called to holiness, and each person has a unique vocation. For me, I understand that my vocation lies in the priesthood, so I wholeheartedly embraced this calling.”
Nathan highlighted that during his childhood, Pope Benedict XVI was the Pope he revered. “My fascination with the vocation was particularly connected to him. I saw in him an imposing figure, someone who spoke softly but eloquently, and he embodied the essence of liturgy. At the age of seven, I witnessed Masses in the Vatican, and they left a lasting impression on me,” he shared.
“When Pope Francis emerged in 2013, it was a delightful surprise—a Pope from Argentina, someone so close to us. With his election as Pope, my love for the Church and my vocation grew even stronger because he was someone relatable. It’s not to say that Benedict XVI wasn’t relatable, but I perceived Benedict XVI as the Pope who resided in the Vatican and seemed distant,” he reflected.
In early 2020, Nathan de Brito entered the aspirancy of the Order of Friars Minor. He remained in the congregation until the end of last year when he requested a transfer to the seminary of the Archdiocese of Campo Grande.
