7 February 2019 10:21 am Views - 6989
Pope Francis blessed a Colombian girl after she broke through a security barrier and ran towards his vehicle during an appearance in Abu Dhabi.
The incident took place on Monday afternoon shortly before the pontiff was due to say Mass for 170,000 people at the Zayed Sports City stadium.
Later that evening as the Pope boarded a plane to fly back to the Vatican, he praised Gabriela's courage.
'This child has a future!' the pontiff told reporters during the flight.
'I liked that. You have to have courage to do that.'
The Gulf News reported that the girl's mother, with whom she lives in the nearby city of Dubai, said that Gabriela wanted the Pope to read the card she had given him. (Daily Mail)