Pope Leo XIV Recognizes First Miracle of His Papacy. Pope Leo XIV has officially recognized the first miracle of his papacy: the unexplained revival of a newborn in Rhode Island whose heart had stopped for over an hour. The event took place on January 14, 2007, at the now-closed Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, where baby Tyquan Hall was delivered via emergency C-section after suffering severe oxygen deprivation.
Despite efforts, the infant was declared dead. Dr. Juan Sánchez-Esteban, a native of Almería, Spain, quietly prayed to Father Salvador Valera Parra, a 19th-century Spanish priest known for his service during a cholera epidemic. Just minutes later, the baby’s heart inexplicably started beating again.
Not only did Tyquan survive, but he went on to develop normally—without the brain damage doctors had expected. The Vatican, after reviewing the case, officially declared the recovery a miracle on July 18, 2025, marking a major step toward sainthood for Fr. Valera Parra.
The Diocese of Providence and medical staff involved called the event medically unexplainable and spiritually profound. Dr. Sánchez-Esteban, while respecting patient privacy laws, expressed hope that the recognition brings comfort and meaning.
Whether seen as divine intervention or a medical mystery, Tyquan’s recovery is now part of Church history—and the first miracle officially recognized in Rhode Island by the Vatican.
