Pope Francis' kiss shrinks baby girl's inoperable brain tumor, parents say

PHILADELPHIA (KABC) -- The parents of a 1-year-old girl says their daughter's inoperable brain tumor shrank after a moment with Pope Francis.

The pontiff was in Philadelphia in September during his visit to the United States when little Gianna Masciantonio went to the parade thanks to a family friend in the FBI.

At the parade, the pope's bodyguard presented her to the pontiff and he kissed her.

Today, Gianna's brain tumor is barely visible, and her parents say she is now starting to point and blow kisses herself.

"Last year was about living in honor of her," Gianna's father, Joey Masciantonio, said. "Now we're going to live with her."

Doctors have not offered any other medical explanation about the tumor shrinking, and Gianna's family is calling it a miracle.