WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- A 5-year-old girl set social media afire Wednesday morning after she ran out to Pope Francis during the parade around the Ellipse in Washington D.C.
The girl, who was identified as Sophie Cruz from California, got outside the police barricade and ran to the pope. A bodyguard first tried to come near to pick her up and bring her to the pope, but she shied away. It wasn't until Pope Francis gestured for her to come to him that she allowed the bodyguard to pick her up and bring her to Francis for a papal kiss and blessing.
According to the Washington Post, editorial partners with KSDK's sister station in Washington, Cruz is the daughter of two undocumented immigrants. She wanted to meet the pope and talk about immigration issues because she's scared of her parents being deported.
Sophie wasn't the only child Pope Francis blessed. During the parade, two babies were carried out from the crowd by Secret Service agents so the pope could kiss their heads. The crowd roared with applause after the gesture.
Photos: Papal Parade in Washington D.C.
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