5-year-old LA girls gets blessing from Pope Francis in Washington, D.C. A 5-year-old Los Angeles girl got a personal papal blessing Wednesday when she slipped through a barricade in Washington, D.C., while Pope Francis was being driven by, and he waved her over.

Sophie Cruz managed to get around a metal fence as the Popemobile made its way down Constitution Avenue. She caught the pope’s eye, and the pontiff — known for interacting with people in crowds — waved the little girl over.

A security guard carried her to the pope, who embraced her and kissed her head in front of a national television audience. The girl was then passed back to her father, Raul.