A kiss on the forehead by Pope Francis might have saved the life of a one-year-old girl in Philadelphia.
Joey and Kristen Masciantonio claim that their daughter Gianna's brain tumor shrank significantly after Gianna was kissed on the forehead by Pope Francis while he embarked on a tour in the U.S. two months ago, the New York Daily News reported.
"I think this is all from God. I believe the Pope is a messenger from God," Joey said, according to CBS Philadelphia.
Gianna's mother, Kristen, revealed that her daughter is doing extremely well. "She's getting better and stronger. She's blowing kisses. She's starting to point at things," she said.
Gianna's tumor developed weeks after her birth when her red blood cells attacked her blood stem. The tumor is also rare and inoperable.
A brain scan illustrated in August that her tumor was growing after going through numerous chemotherapy treatments, and doctors concluded she only had a few months left to live, according to the San Francisco Gate.
Thanks to a friend of theirs from the F.B.I., the family was given passes and the opportunity to see the Pope during his visit in Philadelphia.
The couple was able to secure permission from Gianna's doctor to brave the large crowds and managed to get a security guard to bring her to the head of the Vatican, who then kissed her on the forehead, USA Today reported.
