Pope Francis sent his official blessing to an Italian nursery school after exchanging letters with one of its young students.The pope responded to a letter sent to him by a 3-year-old girl from Osio Sopra, who asked him for his blessings upon her family and the nursery school she attends.
Alice Maria Rocca wrote the letter with the help of her grandmother and was pleasantly surprised this week when she received a response from Francis that included the requested good words.
Alice Maria and the pontiff actually had a bit of a prior relationship, Italy's ANSA news agency said Friday.
She had been among a cadre of children who made a pilgrimage to the Vatican -- and was personally greeted by Francis -- in June for the 50th anniversary of the death of Pope John XXIII.