Pope Kisses Baby— Later, Parents Realize Haunting Outcome

Two months after her birth, Gianna Masciantonio was diagnosed with juvenile xanthogranuloma, a tumor in her brain stem. Doctors told family members that survival was highly unlikely.

A day after Gianna’s first birthday, a family friend who worked for the FBI arranged special passes so the family could welcome Pope Francis during his visit to the state.

His Excellency, who was unaware of Gianna’s condition, stopped to kiss her forehead centimeters away from the site of the tumor.

Two months after, an MRI scan revealed that the tumor was beginning to shrink. Now Gianna is nearing a full recovery.

Though the family says they do not credit the Pope for healing their daughter they say the kiss ‘gave us hope… it gave us strength.