Pope Leo XIV Blesses Sto NiƱo Image
- Jan 18
- 2 min read
Imagine if your Sto. NiƱo image was blessed by Pope Leo XIV himself!
This is what happened to Fr. John P. Mallare, CICM on May 24, 2025, just 17 days after Bishop Robert Prevost was elected to the papacy and became Pope Leo XIV.
All those working at the Vatican were called for the Jubilee audience for the "workers of the Holy See" or the employees of the Roman Curia and Fr. John was one of them, as a Professor at the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies.
Knowing that he might meet the Holy Father during this audience, Fr. John brought his personal image of the Sto NiƱo. He had purchased this just a few months earlier in Cebu.
Fr. John recalls, "I had doubts that I would have a chance to meet the Holy Father so he could bless the image, but it seemed that the Sto NiƱo I was holding itself wanted to meet the new Holy Father, and his Holiness did not miss it!"
After Pope Leo's message, Fr. John managed to get near the railings where the Pope passed. But to Fr. John's surprise, the Sto. NiƱo needed no introduction for the pope.
Pope Leo recognized the image immediately. Fr. John shares, "Pope Leo himself called out 'Sto NiƱo!' when he saw the image (so) I even tripped while rushing to greet the Pope!"
Fr. John now keeps the image on his altar: "Now the image is enthroned at the simple altar in my room here in Rome. It serves as a reminder for me to be humble as the Holy Child was.Ā This image remains a beacon of hope and love for me."
Around the same time, Fr. Jubanie Rey Baller, OSA, has also presented his image of the Sto. NiƱo to Pope Leo.
Pope Leo in fact has presided at a fiesta mass for the SeƱor Sto. NiƱo. He was in Cebu and presided for the 8th Novena Mass as then Fr. Robert Prevost, OSA, Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine on January 15, 2009.
Viva Pit Senyor!