Five-month-old baby Chayan, who last Sunday received Pope Francis’ blessing at St Paul’s Basilica in Rabat has passed away yesterday morning.

Chayan’s mother, Valerie Ciantar, told TVM that her son, who had a rare heart condition, “went to meet God yesterday at 7.40am.”

She said that despite her grief over the loss of her son, she felt a great sense of hope and courage that her son died with the blessing of Pope Francis, as he died peacefully in his sleep.

Chayan’s parents were told that he would live for only two or three days, but he lasted five and a half months, which Ciantar said was, “a great miracle and a testament to the existence of God.”

Ciantar asked all those attending her son’s funeral at the Senglea Basilica on Saturday to wear colourful clothes.

“We have no words to thank you for the unwavering love and help you have given us in these difficult moments. I never imagined that I would go through this time in my life,” Ciantar said.

Photo: TVM