Pope’s surprise visit to Vatican workshops

August 09, 2013 - Pope Francis, who is on vacation at home in the Vatican since July, made an unannounced surprise visit, Friday morning, to the workshop area of Vatican City. He particularly greeted workers at the carpentry, the electricity and water centres and metalworkers. While the Holy Father was going about, others nearby were able to see and greet him as well. Alessandro De Gregori who works at the electricity centre narrated to Vatican Radio how they were taken aback when a car pulled up and Pope Francis stepped down and entered their centre. “Such a thing has never happened in about 10 years of my work here,” De Gregori gushed. “It was really moving to meet him,” he said, “even though all Vatican employees had already met the Pope at the morning Masses. It was truly a pleasant surprise.” De Gregori said it was nice of him to come to them instead of the other way about. Pope Francis shook hands with the employees, asking them questions about their work and went about visiting various sections.