1.   God bless the child, indeed.

2.   Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, speaking to the congregation, recalled that Mother Teresa, whose funeral will be held on Saturday in Calcutta, had blessed his children.

3.   Not every child is blessed to have one wonderful father.

4.   They wash and bless the child, say prayers and then the paternal grandmother wraps the infant with a quilt.

5.   But Ngugi said many children also are blessed with an extraordinary resilience.

6.   Leaving the basilica, he waved to the congregation and stopped to bless some children.

7.   Some are prostitutes, others are paid to dance at weddings and festivals or to bless newborn children, or find small roles in Indian films.

8.   He went into the paediatric unit to bless the children there, offering them key-rings and rosary beads.