A PAPAL BLESSING
Pope Francis blesses the eyes of five-year-old Lizzy Myers, from Bellville, Ohio, at the end of his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday. Lizzy has Usher’s Syndrome, which will eventually rob her of her sight and hearing, though she does not know that yet. Her parents have made a ‘visual bucket list,’ to show her as many things as they can before she can no longer see.
VATICAN CITY • Pope Francis on Wednesday blessed the eyes of a five-year-old Ohio girl who suffers from a rare genetic disease that is gradually robbing her of her sight.
Lizzy Myers and her family, including three-yearold sister Michaela, had special seats for Francis’ Wednesday general audience, and Francis spent several minutes with her at the end.
He caressed her, hugged her, and placed his hands over her eyes. She gave him a meteorite chunk.
Lizzy doesn’t know she suffers from Usher’s Syndrome, which will take away her hearing and gradually make her blind. Her parents have made a “visual bucket list” to show her as many things as they can before she can no longer see.
Her mother, Christine Myers, said afterward that Lizzy was “awestruck.”
“She was totally big-eyed and it was a very powerful moment for her.”
The family was in Rome courtesy of Turkish Airlines; its general manager heard her story and offered free plane tickets to anywhere in the world. The family chose Rome because of its history and beauty. A local hotel offered them lodging.
Lizzy’s father, Steve Myers, said he had been nervous ahead of Wednesday’s audience but that as the Pope approached his family, he felt an incredible sense of calm.
“You know, I believe my- self, and I think that what Pope Francis has done for her, if there is any chance for a miracle, it would be there,” he said.
“It wasn’t originally something that we thought would even be possible, but now that it’s here, my stomach’s a little bit upset,” he said, laughing.
Lizzy was initially caught up in the excitement of the Pope’s traditional arrival, CBS News reported. She enthusiastically waved her meteorite at him, seeming a little perplexed that he did not respond immediately.
Then, like any five-yearold, she became restless during the Pope’s address, even a little bored.
But that special moment did eventually arrive when Pope Francis hugged and kissed Lizzy, then touched her face and laid his hands over her eyes.
Christine Myers told CBS News the exchange with the Pope exceeded her expectations.
“He said he would pray for me and asked me to pray for him,” she said, adding that she felt an overwhelming sense of peace.
Lizzy has grown up Catholic and was aware of the “big guy in the white hat,” her mother said.
Lizzy’s parents are trying to ensure that she has memories to recall when her sight fails. They want her to appreciate the simple things, such as picking flowers, catching fireflies and looking into space through a telescope.