Pope Francis made an unexpected stop as he was leaving the airport in Philadelphia Saturday morning to bless a boy in a wheelchair.Although there was a welcome delegation and a small group of people on the tarmac, there was no formal welcome ceremony planned for the pope's arrival from New York. Pope Francis had already gotten into his Fiat to head into the city for Mass when he had the driver stop so he could walk over to the crowd.Pope Francis approached 11-year-old Michael Keating and bent over the barricade to kiss his head. Michael's mother woman was visibly moved by the pope's blessing and thanked him through her tears.Kristin Keating called the gesture "beautiful" and says she believes Michael felt the pope's blessing.Michael's father is Bishop Shanahan Marching Band Director Chuck Keating. The band provided music for the pope's arrival, playing the theme fromas Pope Francis got off the plane. ||||| Pope Francis halted his motorcade minutes after arriving in Philadelphia to meet and bless 10-year-old Michael Keating who suffers from cerebral palsy. It's an experience the Keating family said they'll never forget. (Published Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015) 
 
 They were thrilled to simply see Pope Francis. 
 
 Pushed up against a silver-aluminum barrier at Philadelphia International Airport Saturday morning, the Keating Family looked on as the pontiff planted his feet in Philadelphia under gray skies. It was the last stop on his historic U.S. tour. 
 
 They listened as Chuck Keating, the family’s patriarch, directed the Bishop Shanahan High School marching band to play music for the popular pope — a set that included “Gonna Fly Now” (The theme from Rocky). And they smiled as he began to pull away toward Center City to celebrate Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. 
 
 But then, Pope Francis spotted Michael. 
 
 Sister Regina Plunkett was pointing at the 10-year-old boy, whose head almost didn’t clear the waist-high fence, sitting in his wheelchair among the small group. 
 
 “The Holy Father’s eyes opened very wide and then he said ‘Stop the car!’ said Plunkett, who is president of Bishop Shanahan. She granted the Keating family permission to be there with the band. “He got out of the car very quickly, came over and saw Michael." 
 
 A video posted by Bernie Schneider (@bschneider101) on Sep 26, 2015 at 10:08am PDT 
 
 Michael’s mother, Kristin Keating, tried not to bawl as she carefully moved her son’s head toward Pope Francis. He leaned forward, kissed his forehead and blessed the boy who suffers from cerebral palsy. 
 
 “I had to turn away,” Chuck Keating, the boy’s dad, told NBC10. “It’s just a dream come true. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. That’s the word I just keep saying over and over again.” 
 
 Not knowing Spanish, Kristin said she simply repeated said “thank you” as she and her husband shook hands with the pope. 
 
 Pope Francis stops to bless Michael Keating, 10, who suffers from cerebral palsy, minutes after arriving at Philadelphia International Airport Saturday morning. 
 
 Photo credit: Joseph Gidjunis - World Meeting of Families 
 
 Michael and his twin brother, Christopher, were born at 29 weeks and endured a number of complications. Despite the challenges, Kristen Keating said the family’s life has been enriched by her son’s disability. 
 
 “This is just another one of those experiences. Of course it tops all others, but as a result of Michael’s disability our life has changed for the better. Sometimes people don’t understand that, but it really has,” Kristen Keating, his mother, said. 
 
 “We’re so thankful to the students of Bishop Shanahan for all their hard work that enabled to let us come.” 
 
 Michael can’t speak, but facial expressions tell his family how he’s feeling. Kristin said her son had only one reaction as Pope Francis walked away: “a big smile.”
– Pope Francis made an impromptu stop minutes after arriving at the Philadelphia airport this morning when he had his driver pull over so he could bless a 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, NBC Philadelphia reports. The pope leaned over a barricade and kissed Michael Keating, who uses a wheelchair. He also blessed others nearby, including a nun who drew his attention to Michael. The boy's mother thanked the pope through tears. KTRK reports the boy's father is the director of the marching band whose rendition of the theme from Rocky greeted the pope as he disembarked his plane.