American flag waving in blue skyWritten by Don Byrd

I don’t know about you, but I could use some good news this week. We finally got some: Meriam Ibrahim, the Christian woman condemned to death in Sudan for allegedly abandoning Islam, was finally, finally, allowed to leave. If you don’t know Ibrahim’s story, see my earlier post here.

What you really need to know is this: recently imprisoned and facing death for refusing to renounce her Christianity – the near fatal victim of a barbaric and and inhuman law – Ibrahim and her 2 young children are now headed to America.

Along the way she stopped by to visit the Pope (link via Religion Clause):

The Vatican said Pope Francis had “a very affectionate” meeting with Ibrahim, her husband and their two small children on Thursday. “The Pope thanked Mariam and her family for their courageous witness and constancy of faith. For her part, Mariam expressed gratitude to the Pope for the great support and comfort she received from his prayers and from so many others believers of good will,” Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said.

As she held her baby daughter Maya in her arms, the pope blessed both of them. “The meeting, which lasted around half an hour, was intended as a sign of closeness and solidarity for all those who suffer for their faith,” he added.

Indeed, many around the world suffer for their faith. Some we see on the news and some we don’t. Some suffer grave and public harm for refusing to conform to their persecutors; others suffer in private, all victims of coercion great and small.

Ibrahim maintains she was raised Christian by her mother and has always been Christian. She can remain steadfast in those beliefs, though now… she doesn’t have to. Welcome to America, Meriam.