Pope meets with Sudanese Christian woman who faced death sentence for apostasy

Pope Francis met privately Thursday with Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese Christian woman who faced a death sentence for refusing to renounce her faith, blessing the woman after she was flown to Italy on an Italian government jet.

The Vatican characterized the visit with Ibrahim, 27, her husband and their two small children as “very affectionate.”

The 30-minute encounter took place just hours after the family landed at Rome’s Ciampino airport, accompanied by an Italian diplomat who helped negotiate her release, and welcomed by Italy’s premier, who hailed it as a “day of celebration.”

Vatican spokesman the 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 Thursday. Francis frequently calls attention to the suffering of those persecuted for their religious beliefs.

Lombardi said the presence of “their wonderful small children” added to the affectionate tone of the meeting. Ibrahim was presented with a rosary, a gift from the pope

Meriam, talk to the guy in white will you?  Straighten him out will you, he thinks in a world in which Christians are being wiped out in some parts of the world that “Capitalism” is the biggest problem.

Hey, “Rio Frankie”.  Capitalism isn’t your problem, the lost churches in the middle east that for over a millennium have kept the faith of Christ and been an example to Christianity lost on your watch are your problem.