Paul KeenanChristian’s ordeal ends with papal meeting
Pope Francis thanked Meriam Ibrahim Ishag for her “steadfast witness of faith” during their July 24 meeting, it has been reported.
Revealing details of the encounter between the Pontiff and the Sudanese Christian woman who was forced to give birth to her daughter while in chains awaiting a death sentence for apostasy, Fr Federico Lombardi told journalists that the meeting had been “a beautiful conversation” and the realisation of a heartfelt desire on the part of Meriam.
Accompanied by her family and Italian Minister Lapo Pistelli, Meriam flew to Italy on July 24 after a month living in the US embassy in Khartoum, where she had sought shelter when authorities attempted to level new charges with her in relation to her travel documents.
Meriam was sentenced to death in May when accusations were levelled that she was a Muslim who had married a Christian, thereby committing adultery and apostasy. Meriam, however, insisted that she had been raised as a Christian by her mother, albeit that her father was a Muslim. Held in Omdurman women’s prison, Meriam subsequently gave birth to her second child in chains as the international community voiced outrage at her plight.
Ultimately rowing back from the charges, the authorities released Meriam in June, raising hopes that she would quickly depart the country with her husband, an American citizen. However, accused of bearing false travel documents, Meriam sought shelter with her children in the US embassy compound.
Finally allowed to travel, Meriam and her family boarded a plane supplied by the Italian government and flew to Rome, where all were greeted by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi ahead of the papal meeting.