Little girl shares immigration message with pope

Pope Francis reaches for a letter and t-shirt from Sophie Cruz, 5, of suburban Los Angeles, during a parade in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. The massive security apparatus protecting Pope Francis on his historic, six-day trip to the United States got its first test Wednesday as a 5-year-old girl with a gift for the pontiff made her way through a security barrier and onto his parade route.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool) Pope Francis reaches for a letter and t-shirt from Sophie Cruz, 5, of suburban Los Angeles, during a parade in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. The massive security apparatus protecting Pope Francis on his historic, six-day trip to the United States got its first test Wednesday as a 5-year-old girl with a gift for the pontiff made her way through a security barrier and onto his parade route.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

By Associated Press September 23, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – A girl who was handed up to the pope during Pope Francis’ parade in Washington on Wednesday shared a message about immigration.

Alicia Flores of La Hermandad, an immigration advocacy group, says the girl is 5-year-old Sophie Cruz of suburban Los Angeles.

Sophie got beyond a barricade and approached the popemobile Wednesday morning, carrying a T-shirt bearing a message about the status of immigrant parents of children born in the United States. She also carried a letter addressed to Pope Francis that bore her name and address.

Sophie shied back when a bodyguard came near. But when the pope gestured to her, she allowed the bodyguard to pick her up and bring her forward for a papal kiss and blessing. A guard passed the shirt and message into the popemobile.