Pope Francis' Moving Moment With Sudanese Mother Meriam Ibrahim, Who Faced Death For Her Faith

Pope Francis has met privately with the Sudanese woman who arrived in Italy after escaping a death sentence in Sudan for refusing to recant her Christian faith.

Tenderly blessing her with his palm on her forehead, the pontiff spoke to Meriam Ibrahim, from Sudan, who held her baby daughter Maya in her arms. She met with the Pope at his Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, along with her young son Martin and husband Daniel Wani on Thursday July 24,2014

The family arrived in Italy this morning after finally being given permission to leave Sudan.

The Vatican said Pope Francis had "a very affectionate" meeting with the 27-year-old. Spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi said the pope "thanked her for her faith and courage, and she thanked him for his prayer and solidarity" during the half-hour meeting.

Note

As in many Muslim nations, Muslim women in Sudan are prohibited from marrying non-Muslims, though Muslim men can marry outside their faith

Meriam Ibrahim was given a reprieve from a death sentence handed down because she refused to convert to Islam.
Born to a Christian mother and Muslim father, Meriam Ibrahim was raised in her mother's faith, but under Islamic law she is considered a Muslim because of her father's religion, and a court said she had committed the capital offence of apostasy.

Pregnant at the time of her sentencing,Meriam Ibrahim gave birth to daughter Maya whilst shackled to the ground in the prison, next to her 18-month-old son Martin who was kept in the cell with her.

The case caused international outcry, with thousands calling on the government to release Ibrahim.

Sudan's government is believed to have approved her departure, after several attempts to block her leaving the country after she was given a reprieve from her death sentence last month