Parents of a 1-year-old baby girl in Philadelphia said that their baby’s brain tumor has shrunken after the infant was kissed by Pope Francis during his visit to the United States this September.

Gianna Masciantonio, 1, is battling with a rare brain cancer called systemic juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG), her parents said. Her incurable tumor was spotted by doctors on her brain stem.

Gianna's father, Joe Masicantonio, told ABC News that her life was a miracle. Gianna had been in hospice care since her birth. Later, when she developed cysts, doctors during an 11-hours long operation came across the rare cancer JXG.

Though the tumor is benign, the location of the tumor is such that it can affect Gianna's ability to breathe and for her heart to beat, according to her mother Kristen Masciantonio.

Ever since her surgery, Gianna has been on multiple chemotherapy treatments to shrink her tumor. Her parents told that the kid was kissed by Pope during a parade in Philadelphia.

Joe Masciantonio said Gianna's tumor shrunk after Pope kissed her, but he said he did not want to call it ‘a miracle’ and also wants to thank her doctors at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Texas Children's Hospital.

Gianna’s mother said the last courses of treatment took place just before Gianna met Pope Francis. She said they were nervous about bringing her daughter in the crowd but decided at the last minute to risk it.

Gianna will continue to undergo chemotherapy, said Joe Masciantonio.