Pope Francis today blessed five-year-old Elizabeth 'Lizzy' Myers, an American girl who is losing her sight.

Myers, from Ohio, suffers with a genetic disease known as Usher syndrome, an ailment which gradually leads to blindness and hearing loss.

Pope Francis approached the girl at the end of his weekly audience in St Peter's Square.

The Pope could be seen leaning on the little girl, who was sitting with her parents in the front rows during the audience, and gently caressing her face, eyes and ears.

According to media reports, meeting the pontiff was top of a "visual bucket list" set out for Myers' by her parents before she loses her sight completely.

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