Pope Leo XIV Recognizes Miracle in Baby’s Recovery
Pope Leo XIV has officially acknowledged a miracle related to the recovery of a baby from Rhode Island Hospital, attributing the infant’s survival to the power of prayer, as per an announcement from the Vatican.
Little Taycan Hall was born via emergency cesarean section and faced severe complications, including oxygen deficiency. He appeared pale, exhibited signs of cyanosis, and had a weak pulse.
In a moment of desperation, Dr. Juan Sanchez, hailing from Fulkal Ober in Spain, invoked the intercession of Father Varela Para, a 19th-century local patron, according to reports from Wjar.
Within minutes of fervent prayer, the child’s heart stabilized without any medical intervention, which, while miraculous, left many puzzled due to the initial prognosis suggesting significant neurological damage from the lack of oxygen.
Remarkably, Taycan thrived and reached all developmental milestones, speaking at 18 months and walking by two years old, as Wjar noted.
Pope Leo’s declaration suggests that Father Varela Para might be a step closer to sainthood.
The Rev. Timothy Riley from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence expressed enthusiasm over this official recognition. “It’s exciting that this acknowledgment will further the cause of beatification for the venerable servant of God Salvador Valera Para,” Riley said in a statement reported by Wjar.
“What’s fascinating to consider is that Father Varela lived in the 19th century. He never visited the United States; he’s never been to Rhode Island,” Riley remarked. “Still, in 2007, the doctor called upon him during a crisis to help the little baby, and somehow, it seems, he answered that call.”
Father Varela Para, who lived in Spain from 1816 to 1889, was a modest parish priest, with his lifetime offering no notable miracles or accomplishments.
The first American Pope has also advanced the cause of another saint, Carlos Acotis, a 15-year-old who died from leukemia in 2007, whose body remains incorrupt in a glass tomb in Assisi, Italy.
