Pope Francis was serenaded by a teenage cancer patient during his visit to a children's hospital in Mexico on Sunday, and his eyes stayed locked with hers for the entire song.
The touching pastoral moment silenced a crowded room full of press and dignitaries inside Mexico City's Federico Gomez Pediatric Hospital, where Francis stopped during his first papal trip to the country.
The 15-year-old, identified as Alexia Garduño by Catholic news agency Agencia Católica de Informaciones, spoke privately to the pope for a few moments before she sat down in her wheelchair and broke out into a moving rendition of Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria."
Pope Francis folded his hands together and appeared to listen attentively until Garduño finished the song. The onlookers applauded while Francis bent down to give the young girl a hug.
@ConElPapa, the official Twitter account for Francis' visit to Mexico, later shared a prayer request for Garduño's health.
The song, which Garduño performed in Latin, is a musical take on the ancient "Hail Mary" prayer, which is recited by Catholics around the world in honor of Jesus' mother. The young girl's choice of "Ave Maria" was perfect for the pope, since observers have often noted Francis' deeply personal devotion towards Mary.
Garduño was just one of the 38 children Francis met during his visit to Federico Gomez Hospital, which is located in an impoverished neighborhood. He handed out rosaries in the oncology ward and helped a doctor administer medicine to a five-year-old patient.
"Entering here and seeing your eyes, your smiles, your faces, has filled me with a desire to give thanks," Francis said during the visit. "I ask God to bless you, and to accompany you and your families, and all those people who work in this home and try to ensure that your smiles grow day by day."
Pope Francis is currently on a weeklong trip to Mexico, where he is reaching out to indigenous communities and speaking out against political corruption and gang violence in the country.
Watch the video above to hear Garduño singing "Ave Maria."
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