"Pope lauds faith of Sudanese woman" Associated Press July 25, 2014
ROME — Pope Francis met privately Thursday with a Sudanese woman who refused to recant her Christian faith in the face of a death sentence, blessing the woman as she cradled her infant daughter born just weeks ago in prison.
The Vatican characterized the pope’s visit with Meriam 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 prime minister, Matteo Renzi.
Ibrahim and her family are expected to spend a few days in Rome before heading to the United States, where her husband is a citizen. Ibrahim’s husband, Daniel Wani, had lived in New Hampshire.
Ibrahim’s brother-in-law in New Hampshire said Thursday he is happy the family will be coming to the United States.
Gabriel Wani said he is waiting to hear from his brother about the family’s travel plans, but expects them to come to his home in Manchester. He says he is thankful for those who helped secure Ibrahim’s release, calling it “a day of celebration.’’
‘‘It’s really happy news,’’ Wani said. ‘‘I want to thank everyone involved in this case, all the officials who helped.’’
Members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security and State Department on behalf of Wani to secure his wife’s release, sponsoring resolutions condemning the charges against her. An Italian diplomat helped negotiate her release.
‘‘No one should be persecuted for exercising their right of religious freedom, and Meriam’s unwavering faith and determination in the face of danger are an inspiration to us all,’’ US Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte said in a joint statement.
Ibrahim, whose father was Muslim but whose mother was an Orthodox Christian from Ethiopia, was sentenced to death over charges of apostasy.
A Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the pope thanked Ibrahim “for her faith and courage, and she thanked him for his prayer and solidarity.’’
Lombardi said the presence of ‘‘their wonderful small children’’ added to the affectionate tone of the meeting.
Ibrahim held her sleeping infant as she stepped off the plane from Sudan, which had initially blocked her from leaving the country even after the country’s highest court overturned her death sentence.
An Italian diplomat carried her 18-month-old son, while her husband, who is disabled, joined them on the tarmac in a wheelchair.
Ibrahim married Wani, a Christian from southern Sudan, in a church ceremony in 2011. As in many Muslim nations, Muslim women in Sudan are prohibited from marrying non-Muslims.
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Related: Sudanese Woman Seeks Sanctuary at U.S. Embassy
Also see: Cardinal O’Malley commends faith of freed Sudanese woman
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