Behind the Scenes at the Vatican By Shawna Gallagher Vega In his role as Director of Development at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Loual Puliafito ’00 regularly comes in contact with prominent New Yorkers and visitors from around the world. But it was his role as friend that brought him to the center of Catholic life last fall when he traveled to the Vatican for a Baptism celebrated by Pope Francis himself. Puliafito, his wife Daniela, and their children, Lyla and Loual, often socialize with the family of Adrián Pallarols, an Argentinian silversmith who met Francis when the Pontiff was serving as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. In 2015, Pallarols made a special chalice Pope Francis used when he celebrated Mass at Madison Square Garden. They remain in close contact, with Pallarols considering the Holy Father to be his second father. Visiting the Vatican with the Pallarols family was revelatory. Pope Francis greeted them personally, taking special care to ask Francesca, Pallarols’ 8-year-old daughter, to help with the Baptism of her 1-yearold brother, Mateo. “It was beautiful to see the way he was involving her in the spiritual sacrament for her brother,” Puliafito said. During the service, Puliafito’s and Pallarols’ sons crawled around the altar. Known for his love of children, Francis commented, “If only we could all enjoy Mass like these two little boys are!” After the Baptism, Puliafito spoke to Pope Francis. Wearing his Xavier lapel pin, he brought the Holy Father gifts from 16th Street and asked him to bless items he later brought back to New York. Francis, a Jesuit himself, was excited to hear about Puliafito’s connection to Xavier and Fordham University. “It was so much like every personal experience I’ve ever had with a Jesuit,” Puliafito said. “It was very intimate—there was no pomp and circumstance. He was just a friendly pastor. A pastor who cares.” 1. Pope Francis blessing a cross to be taken back to New York. 2. Francis with Puliafito’s son, Loual. 3. Francis with Puliafito’s daughter, Lyla. 4. Francesca Pallarols with Pope Francis.
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