Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Isha who was sentenced to death for apostasy in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and eventually released, was received by Pope Francis for a half an hour meeting in the Vatican, along with her husband, Daniel Wani, her two young children and the Italian deputy foreign affairs minister who escorted her to Rome this morning.
She arrived just before 1 pm and left St.Martha's House just before 1:30 pm. The meeting took place in the sitting room where Francis receives guests. The private meeting took place in the presence of Fr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, the Egyptian Coptic priest who serves as secretary to the Pope and today assisted as interpreter during the 15 minute meeting. The staff that accompanied Meriam on her journey from Sudan to Italy then joined the meeting.
“The Pope thanked Meriam and her family for their courageous testimony of perseverance in the faith,” the Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi, said in a statement at the end of the meeting. “And Meriam expressed her gratitude to the Pontiff for his support and comfort in prayer.” “Through this encounter the Holy Father has demonstrated his care, attention and prayers for those who suffer for their faith, especially Christians being persecuted or who have limits placed on their religious freedom.” This was a symbolic gesture that went beyond this very touching meeting.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was at Rome Ciampino airport to greet the 26-year-old woman. The prime minister was accompanied by his wife Agnese and the Italian foreign affairs minister, Federica Mogherini. The woman stepped off the plane carrying her youngest, Maya, in her arms. Maya was born on May 27, when Meriam was still in prison. Mogherini's deputy, Pistelli, carried Meriam's one-year-and-eight-month-old son, Martin and held him even after the meeting with the Pope.
