Pope Francis has done it again. The charismatic leader of the Roman Catholic church broke protocol again on Wednesday when he spotted among the crowds at St. Peter's Square an old friend Argentinian priest who he had worked with in Buenos Aires. The good pope not only waved and acknowledged the presence of Father Fabrian Baez, he even invited him aboard the pope mobile. In an instant, he became a tour guide.

Fr Baez had not secured an appointment to meet with the pope when he booked his trip to Rome. Of course he much wanted to see his old friend and bishop. Only that he didn't know how. Yet, he was much willing to arrange whatever it costs to get near Pope Francis.

On Jan 8, he positioned himself among the well-wishers and pilgrims in St Peter's Square.

"I was outside the audience area," the priest told Catholic News Service on Thursday. "But he saw me from a distance... he found me."

Elated, Pope Francis yelled to him. "What are you doing here?" Fr Baez was asked.

The priest yelled back, "I came to see you!"

With that, Pope Francis asked his popemobile driver to stop and gestured Fr Baez to come to him.

"I ran as best I could," he said, effectively squeezing past a large security detail.

"Are you with somebody or alone?" the Pope Francis asked. "No, I'm alone," the priest replied.

And with that, Pope Francis said, "Come on, get in!"

Video Source: YouTube/euronews (in Italiano)

It was more than what the Argentinian priest had hoped for. He went up and was given the empty seat next to the papal assistant.

In his interview with the Catholic News Service, Fr Baez said he contemplated on the words Pope Francis told him.

He said he felt the phrase "Come, get on" meant for the whole world.

"When he invited me, he invited all priests to be near the people," he said. "The pope was also inviting all people to stand up, rise up and go and lift their hearts and lives up to the Lord."