Video: Pope Asks Bullied Chicago Girl To Sing For Him
By Emma G. Gallegos in News on Sep 1, 2015 3:21PM
Pope Francis, gearing up for a trip to the United States later this month, reached out Monday to three of the cities that he won't be able to hit up during his tour—including Chicago. ABC News arranged meetings via satellite so that he could speak to groups in Los Angeles, McAllen, Texas and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Pilsen.
One of the more memorable and touching moments was when a teenager from the school tentatively offered up a song for the pope. Valerie Herrera, a 17-year-old senior at Cristo Rey, described how music had been a refuge from the bullying she experienced because of a rare skin condition she has called vitiligo.
The Pope asked her to sing a song for him. She smiled as her classmates broke out into cheers. She began to get teary and hesitated before he encouraged her some more, saying, "Be courageous."
She started singing a Spanish song her mother had taught her, "By You, Mary."
Here is Herrera's moment with the Pope:
Pope Francis will be visiting DC, New York City and Philadelphia during his trip to the United States.