Little girl asks Pope to legalize her parents in touching letter

WASHINGTON D.C. (KUSI) – During the motorcade on the National Mall Wednesday, one young girl broke through the barrier and handed Pope Francis a letter. 

According to CNN, security stopped her, but when the Pope saw what was happening, he signaled for her to come over. 

In a video posted on The Guardian, the girl, identified as 5-year-old Sophie Cruz from Los Angeles, reads the letter.

"Pope Francis, I want to tell you that my heart is sad, and I would like to ask you to speak with the President and the Congress in legalizing my parents because everyday I am scared that one day they will take them away from me," she said. "All immigrants just like my dad need this country."

Cruz describes herself as an "American citizen with Mexican roots." She said her parents immigrated from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Wednesday was the Pope’s first full day in the United States.

The 6-day visit will take him later this week to New York, where he will address the United Nations, and Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families, a large Catholic event that is expected to draw nearly a million pilgrims to papal Masses.