Mr Guidolin and his wife Elsa will have the honour of meeting His Holiness on June 12 when they intend to proudly present him with a Griffith book on behalf of the City and its residents.

This isn't the first time Mr Guidolin has met a Pontiff, 35 years ago, on 12, February 1984, Mr Guidolin and his daughter Yvette had a chance meeting with Pope John Paul II.

Mr Guidolin describes the first meeting as "very powerful".

"The first time I got to see the Pope when I wasn't supposed to. Being so small I was able to sneak through the crowd and get to the front," Mr Guidolin said.

"When I got there, he shook my hand and said, 'God Bless you, you have come from far away in Australia.

"I thought I was going to faint. I told the nun standing next to me that I was feeling funny and she told me to have faith and believe."

This time around the 79-year-old founder of Guidolin Agrimac and devout Catholic will be among a select group of people who will attend Mass and later meet Pope Francis in person.

"I am looking forward to receive his blessing and present him with our gift. It will go into a museum as a gift from Griffith, Australia," Mr Guidolin said.

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