RNS-MERIAM-ITALY

After a visit with the pope last week, Meriam Ibrahim boarded a plane on July 31, 2014, and left Italy for the U.S.

(RNS1-JULY 24) Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman who was nearly executed for apostasy for marrying a Christian man, and her daughter, Maya, meet Pope Francis at the Vatican after arriving in Italy on July 24, 2014, en route to the United States. For use with RNS-MERIAM-ITALY transmitted July 24, 2014. Photo courtesy L’Osservatore Romano