Sofía Cruz, 5, an American-born daughter of Mexican immigrants, handed Pope Francis a letter.

A Little Girl With a Message for the Pope

A 5-year-old girl borrowed the spotlight from Pope Francis at his procession around the Ellipse in Washington on Wednesday.

Her name is Sofía Cruz. She is the American-born daughter of Mexican immigrants in California, and she somehow got through the barricades and headed toward the pope.

“Let her come to me,” the pope told his security detail, according to Fox News Latino.

A black-suited agent lifted the little girl in a traditional flowered dress up to the pontiff.

She handed him a T-shirt and a letter asking him to advocate for immigrants like her.

Later, Sofía read the letter aloud in a video The Guardian posted.

“I am American citizen with Mexican roots,” she began.

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 every day I am scared that one day they will take them away from me.

I believe I have the right to live with my parents. I have the right to be happy. My dad works very hard in a factory galvanizing pieces of metal.

All immigrants just like my dad need this country. They deserve to live with dignity. They deserve to live with respect.

They deserve an immigration reform because it benefits my country and because they have been working hard harvesting oranges, watermelons, carrots, onions, spinach and other vegetables.

NBC News Los Angeles reported that Sofía was part of a group from La Señora Reina de Los Angeles Church in Los Angeles.

At the inevitable media availability, Sofía was asked how she felt to get a hug from the pope.

“Happy.”

“Did you think you were going to get to meet the pope when you came here?” she was asked.

“Yes.”

-NYT