Madonna has filed an adoption application to adopt a child from Malawi named Mercy James. Madonna first met Mercy on her first visit to Malawi at the Kondanani Children's Village in the town of Bvumbwe in 2006.

Madonna had expressed interest in adopting Mercy in 2006 but instead adopted son David Banda from Home of Hope orphanage, in the central district of Mchinji on the border with Zambia. Mercy's surviving relatives include a grandmother and uncle who resisted the adoption in 2006.

If the adoption is finalized Mercy would become the fourth child for Madonna joining Madonna's children Lourdes, Rocco, and David.

Madonna is to appear in court on March 30th for a hearing on the adoption case.