Meriam Ibrahim, a Christian mother from Sudan, had become an icon of faith for Christians all over the world when she refused to denounce her faith even when she was threatened with death. She finally managed to escape from Sudan and came to Italy, where she was blessed by Pope Francis himself.
The Official Vatican Network reported that Meriam, her husband Daniel Wani, her son Martin, and daughter Maya got an opportunity to meet with Pope Francis at the Casa Santa Marta. The pope blessed Meriam for her “courageous witness to perseverance in faith”. She refused to denounce her Christian faith even when she was put on the death row for it. Her daughter Maya was born just two months ago in prison while she was still shackled in Sudan.
Before they arrived at the Casa Santa Marta, Meriam and her family were greeted at the airport by the Prime minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi who called her escape a “day of celebration”.
According to NBC News, Meriam and her family are expected to travel to the United States in the next few days to spend the rest of her life there with her husband who is a U.S. citizen. It is reported that the U.S. Department of State had been negotiating with Sudanese government officials to secure her safe passage out of Sudan, but it is unclear yet how her flight into Italy was arranged.
An Islamic Sharia judge sentenced Meriam to death along with 100 lashes earlier in the year for practicing her Christian faith and marrying her husband. The same judge gave her an opportunity to renounce her faith so she could at least avoid the death penalty. Meriam however, chose death. In an earlier report she stated, "If they want to execute me then they should go ahead and do it because I'm not going to change my faith. I refuse to change. I am not giving up Christianity just so that I can live. I know I could stay alive by becoming a Muslim and I would be able to look after our family, but I need to be true to myself.”
