Blessing from Pope Francis

Charity walker Mark Randall has now reached Rome as part of his year long journey from Gibraltar to Jerusalem.

Meeting Pope Francis outside St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday afternoon he described the moment as “a very emotional encounter and humbling experience”.

Mr Randall told Pope Francis who he was and that he had walked 150 days over 4000km to get to Rome from Gibraltar.

He then asked him for his blessing to give him the strength and faith to get to Jerusalem.

He told the Chronicle from Rome: “I told Pope Francis I was a friend of Monsignor Mark Miles, and he replied, ‘ah an excellent priest’, and he blessed me.”

One if his assistants then presented him with a rosary.

Mr Randall said he now felt he had the correct frame of mind and will power to continue on his journey.