Seven-year-old girl fulfills dream to hug Pope Benedict
Last Updated on Monday, 07 May 2012 02:26 27 April 2012
VATICAN CITY — A 7-year-old Italian girl got her wish granted after this week's Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter's Square, when she was able to give a hug to "her friend" Pope Benedict XVI.
Miriam Gentile, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was born in the city of Catanzaro on April 22, 2005, three days after Benedict XVI's election to the papacy. She has been receiving treatment for her condition at the Gemelli and Bambino Gesu Hospitals in Rome.
At the conclusion of the General Audience on April 25, she personally greeted the Pope and gave him what the Vatican daily L'Osservatore Romano described as "an unforgettable hug that was simple, spontaneous, and an expression of joy and affection."
Her father, Marino Gentile, said Miriam "watches the Pope on television all the time, because seeing him makes her happy."
Among those attending the General Audience this week a group of children aged 5-12 from the Italian city of Parma participating in a program to promote sports as "a healthy way to have fun," said the group's spokesman, Giuseppe Formisano.
Olympic gold-medal skier Maria Hofl-Riesch of Germany also attended the audience to offer the pontiff best wishes for his 85th birthday on April 16, and the seventh anniversary of his pontificate on April 19.
The German skier is one of many celebrities who shared their testimonies about the Pope in a new book entitled, "Benedict XVI: Celebrities Talk About the Pope," published to mark his birthday.
— CNA/EWTN News
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RESOURCES
- Read the Catechism in a year: A little to read every day, emailed each morning during the Year of Faith
- USCCB: Stories, videos and more about the Year of Faith
- Annusfidei.va: Vatican's Year of Faith website
- Catholic Relief Services: Features and stories about Year of Faith
- My Year of Faith App: Daily prayers, reflections and thoughts
- Video Catechism for Teens: A free online resource for youths and young adults
- Weekly video series: “C4: Ignite Your Catholic Faith”
- OnceCatholic.org: Geared for people who have left their Catholic faith
- Explore the Sacraments: An 8-part video series on the Sacraments
FROM THE PASTORS
Read and listen to homilies posted regularly by pastors at parishes within the Diocese of Charlotte:
- Fr. Frank Cancro at Queen of the Apostles
- Fr. Patrick Earl at St. Peter in Charlotte
- Fr. John Eckert at St. John the Baptist in Tryon
- Fr. Timothy Reid at St. Ann in Charlotte
- Fr. Benjamin Roberts at Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe
- Fr. Patrick Winslow at St. Thomas Aquinas in Charlotte
- Watch full Masses live and on demand, listen to homilies and reflections from Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury
- Listen to homilies from St. William Catholic Church in Murphy
