The 'courageous' girl who rushed up to Pope Francis travelled across the globe

'That girl has a future,' the pontiff told reporters after he blessed Gabriella, from Colombia

Pope Francis blesses the child before celebrating Mass at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Vatican/Reuters

A girl who rushed up to Pope Francis to deliver a hand written letter has been named as Gabriella, who travelled 13,000km to the UAE from Colombia to see the pontiff.

On Tuesday, as the Pope arrived in a white G-Wagen to deliver a large open-air Mass at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the child pushed through security and ran to the car, handing over a card she had made for him.

An Emirati security official lifted her up to him, and the Pope blessed her as tears filled her eyes. She was then followed by a second girl.

Speaking to the media during his flight back to Rome, Pope Francis said of Gabriella: "She was courageous. That girl has a future."

Video clips of the girl's brave dash has been shared across social media all over the world.