Pope Leo has officially announced his first miracle as pope.
Pope Leo is the successor of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 in April following a string of health issues.
Pope Leo was declared as the new head of the Catholic Church soon after, making history as the first ever American to be voted in as pope.
Now the newly elected Pope, who was selected in by the papal conclave on May 8, has declared his first miracle.
Popes do this as part of the process of canonizing saints. In this case, it’s Father Salvador Valera Parra, who lived in Spain from 1816 to 1889, that has been ascribed to a miracle in 2007.
What was the miracle?
Tyquan Hall, who was born prematurely at Rhode Island Memorial Hospital in Providence, US, is the subject of the miracle.
The odds were stacked against the small baby’s survival because it was reported that he was born with hardly a pulse.
Despite following neonatal recovery procedures, baby Tyguan was still in poor condition an hour later. It is said that at one point his heart stopped.
Physician Dr. Juan Sanchez-Esteban was one of the medics to be caring for Tyguan. Knowing that their medical interventions weren’t helping the child, he changed to divine intervention instead.
Dr Sanchez-Esteban prayed to 19th century Father Valera Parra and reportedly said (via Mail Online): “Fr. Valera, I have done everything I can. Now it’s your turn.”
Tyquan went on to make a magical recovery shortly after, but he was predicted to face other issues as he grew older because of severe lack of oxygen in his first hours of his life.
No such thing occured, however, and the young boy grew up healthy and happy.
What has Dr. Sanchez-Esteban said?
In light of Pope Leo declaring the 2007 ordeal as a miracle, Dr. Sanchez-Esteban has announced a statement.
It read: “As a physician, I have the privilege of witnessing both the fragility and the incredible resilience of life.
“While I cannot speak about any individual patient due to HIPAA privacy laws, I understand that a recent recognition by the Vatican has brought comfort and meaning to many.
“At Care New England and Women & Infants Hospital, we are honored to be part of the stories that inspire hope and we remain committed to providing care grounded in compassion, excellence, and respect for every individual and their beliefs.”
