was pictured yesterday tenderly comforting a man suffering from a rare
disease that has caused him to develop neuronal tumors all over his
body.
Following his general audience in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis
kissed and blessed the man, whose face was covered in tumours, as he
closed his eyes in prayer.
According to the Catholic News Agency the man was suffering from
neurofibromatosis, a illness that can lead to impaired vision,
learning impairment and can be extremely painful.
The disease is genetic and is not contagious.
During his earlier address at the Vatican the Pope had asked people to
pray for a sick girl that he had just met.
Pope Francis has made humility the cornerstone of his Papacy so far
and has a stated aim of making the church more inclusive.
Pope Francis caresses a sick person in Saint Peter's Square Pope
Francis caresses a sick person in Saint Peter's Square In March,
following his selection as the new Pope, Francis tweeted: "True power
is service. The pope must serve all people, especially the poor, the
weak, the vulnerable."
One of his first acts as Pope was to visit prisoners at a youth
detention centre near Rome. As part of a Maundy Thursday service he
washed the prisoners' feet.
The image of Pope Francis embracing the man drew comparisons with the
story of St. Francis of Assisi comforting a leper.
That's what I'm talking about. Humility is a great virtue
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