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Baby Of Native Pittsburgh Couple Receives Kiss, Blessing From Pope

PHILADELPHIA (KDKA) -- While Pope Francis was in the United States he met a lot of people, gave out many blessings and offered prayers for and kindness to many children.

One of those children was 1-year-old Gianna Masciantonio. She and her family now live in the Philadelphia area, but they are originally from Pittsburgh.

Gianna turned 1-year-old back on Sept. 17, but her mom Kristen says doctors told her and her husband that their daughter wouldn't live to see her first birthday.

That's because she has a rare inoperable brain tumor that causes her blood cells to attack her brain stem. Surgery is not an option.

This past weekend, while the pope was riding around Philadelphia in the "popemobile" on his way to Independence Hall, one of his guards plucked Gianna from the crowd and took her to the pontiff.

Pope Francis gave Gianna a kiss on the back of her head, where her tumor is located.

"I held her over the fence as far as I could and that's when the Swiss Guard or Secret Service guard grabbed her and took her over and the pope kissed her and blessed her," Joey Masciantonio, Gianna's father, told our sister station KYW.

"I cried like a baby," said Gianna's grandfather Joe Masciantonio, of Aliquippa. "That's all I can say. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

He can't take his eyes off of the gripping cell phone video of his baby granddaughter and Pope Francis.

Gianna and her family also met the daughter of the saint she is named for. St. Gianna's daughter was on stage with Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families this weekend.

"I fell to my knees and I cried, and I thank the Lord for helping us get through this and giving us this blessing," said Kristen, Gianna's mom.

The Masciantonios still have family here in Pittsburgh.

They say they believe Gianna's future is bright and are thankful for the experience and Pope Francis' blessings.

"With the Pope giving her the kiss and blessing," said the grandfather, "It's just another little miracle in this series of miracles."

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