Photo Courtesy of the P4Foundation

FLOWERY BRANCH—Pope Francis made his way down the short row of people.

These VIP guests all had special reasons for being in St. Peter’s Square, including teen Gino Vizzi.

“He shook my hand and said pray for me,” Gino said.

Gino Vizzi, left, achieved his wish of meeting Pope Francis, Oct. 21, during a trip to Rome, Italy. Vizzo was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in 2014. Photo Courtesy of the P4Foundation

The remarkable moment with Pope Francis was a gift for a teen whose life has been turned upside down.

A persistent cough and exhaustion led the high school athlete, then 16, to a doctor’s office last year. In September 2014, he was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, a rare diagnosis for teens. The American Cancer Society reports some 6,600 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed this year and the average age at diagnosis will be 64. It is incurable. Gino’s treatment requires a pill form of chemotherapy taken daily for the rest of his life.

Yet Gino, who is a member of Prince of Peace Church, in Flowery Branch, said his faith helped him to respond with hope to this cancer usually diagnosed in much older people.

“Faith helped me deal with it. It gave me a positive outlook,” he said.

For a starting member of the Mill Creek High School baseball team, the illness reminded him of the frailty of life. He already volunteered with the Special Olympics, but he felt moved by the illness to do more.

“I feel it was a calling from God,” he said.

So he started a nonprofit called the P4 (Pray for) Foundation, to help children and families dealing with cancer with hope and faith-filled encouragement. The foundation seeks prayers for a cure for childhood cancer and also raises money to support research into childhood cancer treatments and cures. The nonprofit has already raised more than $35,000 and assisted about 60 families, according to Gino. Now a senior at Mill Creek, he is considering where to attend college, with an eye toward earning a degree in integrated medicine or one with a business focus.

‘He told God he was going to fight it’

The trip to Rome, Italy, for an audience with Pope Francis was organized by Make-A-Wish Georgia, which collaborated with its sister organization in Italy. To participate in Make-A-Wish, a child under 18 must have a life-threatening illness. There are four types of wishes: I wish to be; I wish to go; I wish to have; and I wish to meet.

His parents, Dave and ToniAnn Vizzi, were not surprised that Gino’s request was to meet the pope.

“When he was first diagnosed, he told God he was going to fight it and help others to fight as well. Meeting the pope for Gino was the closest he would get to God here on earth to ask for a blessing to do just that,” said his parents in a statement.

The nonprofit paid for Gino, his parents, and his sister, Julia, to fly to Rome, where they attended a public audience given by the pope on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

(L-r) Gino Vizzi, his sister Julia and Father Eric Hill, pastor of Prince of Peace Church, Flowery Branch, do some sightseeing around Rome. Father Hill and the Vizzi family left for Italy Oct. 18 and returned to the United States Oct. 23. The trip was meant to fulfill Gino’s wish of meeting Pope Francis. Photo Courtesy of the P4Foundation

The Vizzis hope the trip brings the “blessing for a miracle to find a cure not just for Gino but for all the children struggling with this horrible disease.”

Gino sat with his mother in a special front row seat where the pope visits with individuals after his remarks. Gino received a card and a rosary after his brief conversation with the pope.

ToniAnn also had a brief exchange. She grabbed the pontiff’s hand and asked for prayers and blessings for the P4 Foundation to help find a cure to save the children from cancer.

Father Eric Hill, pastor of Prince of Peace Church, paid for his own ticket to Rome after being asked by Gino to go along. The group joined Father Hill as he celebrated Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Gino said the priest is closer than a friend.

“He’s like a family member. I adore him,” said Gino.

Father Hill said the young man is “an extremely thoughtful young man who is thinking of others and their needs.”

Hearing about his request to see the pope, the priest said, “How awesome that a young man wanted to meet the pope. And that was his one request among a million others.”

He hoped this trip to Rome and exchange with the Vizzi family brings about “a renewal of faith and life of the church,” while “hoping for healing as well for Gino.”

In the sprawling plaza in front of St. Peter’s, Gino had the attention of the pontiff.

“When he first stood in front of me, I was in awe,” said Gino. “He gave me a nice, firm handshake.”

In response to his request, Gino promised to pray for the pope and in return asked Pope Francis for a blessing and for his prayers so Gino could assist in the best way possible all who are diagnosed with cancer.

“Of course I will,” the pope responded.