NBC’s Matt Lauer: Children Greeting Pope Francis Appear To Be ‘Planned Encounters’

LAUER: “The flickering lights. This is a Pope who prefers simplicity over pageantry and pomp. But for individuals here just any element of this if they get to be a part of is worth celebrating. Just keep in mind as we’re watching these images of children being brought to the Pope. They’re being brought to the Pope by representatives either of the Vatican or some other -- but these aren't being brought by their parents. Nobody is allowed to leave the barricades and simply approach the popemobile. So these would appear, Maria, to be somewhat planned encounters.”
SHRIVER: “Oh, OK. Well I don’t know about that. I’m trusting your opinion on that that they are not just people who were coming out of the crowd running up with their child. I might try and do something like that if I were on that -- I don’t have a child that small. But if I did, I might try it. That’s a moment in any parent’s life, right?”