Pope Francis (L) hugs a sick person in Saint Peter's Square at the end of his general audience in Vatican City.
Posted on 11/06/2013 2:50:01 PM PST by NYer
Francis blessed the men during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square. ‘Too often we are arid, indifferent and detached,’ he told an estimated 50,000 people who had gathered to hear him speak on Wednesday morning.
Pope Francis (L) hugs a sick person in Saint Peter's Square at the end of his general audience in Vatican City.
Pope Francis received two special guests during his general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday. Two men with visible skin diseases came forward to receive blessings from the pontiff. Francis reached out and touched these men, as if they were no different from the 50,000 others who had assembled in St. Peter’s Square that morning.
Pope Francis blesses a pilgrim who had made the pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Square.
The Pope’s weekly audiences draw thousands of pilgrims from around the world, many with illnesses who wait for hours to get a glimpse of the holy man.
Francis (C) waves as he arrives by Popemobile to lead his Wednesday general audience.
During the eight months that he’s held the keys of St. Peter, the 76-year-old has been praised by people inside and outside of the Catholic Church for his efforts to reach out to the poor and to those who don’t share his beliefs. Although he has never veered away from established Church doctrine, his open style and willingness to talk about taboo topics is seen by many as a breath of fresh air.
In his speech on Wednesday, the Pope emphasized that Christians shouldn’t practice “nickel and dime” charity. Instead, he wants his flock of 1.2 billion Catholics to yearn for “something deeper: a communion that makes us able to enter into the joy and the sorrow of others and sincerely make them our own.”
"Too often we are arid, indifferent and detached, and rather than transmitting brotherhood, we transmit discontentment, coldness, selfishness," he said, in a translation provided by CNS.
"Can you help the church grow that way?" the pope asked his crowd of faithful. The people replied, "No."
Ping!
This Pontiff will be known as “the People’s Pope” for all time!
I predict he will be more beloved than JP II (who was quite beloved).
He’s amazing.
I commend his generous heart, but I hope his circle of helpers made sure the pontiff’s vaccinations were up to date.
There are early unconfirmed reports that the Pope will not be appearing in public for the near future.
?
That’s very St. Francis of him!
I really don’t know. However, a follow up report states that five of Italy’s top Dermatologists have been summoned to the Vatican. I hasten to add these reports are still unconfirmed.
Ping!
Thanks. I hope he’s all right.
I’m pretty sure that was a snark.
You’re acting like a nasty one. I’m sure the Pope will be praying for you anyway. As shall I.
There are unconfirmed reports that the permanent scarring will not be extensive as a veil is expected to conceal the damage.
I believe the first soul has a variant of neurofibromatosis and the second has some type of autoimmune disorder, maybe a generalized scleroderma. (Not sure about the latter, but pretty sure about the former.)
Regardless this is a very loving act.
SO, if these are autoimmune based conditions, does that mean they are not likely to be contagious? I can’t see a public figure like the Pope needlessly risking his and other people’s health by not taking what are called Universal Precautions. Universal Precautions means one acts as though everyone you meet is possibly infectious. I understand him wearing latex gloves and a surgeon’s mask in public is not necessarily conducive to winning friendships.
Ye of little faith. :-)
Did not St. Francis of Assisi kiss or embrace a leper? Bear with me, I am having my first cup of coffee.
The first is a genetic issue, the second autoimmune. He can’t catch it from either.
I do have a concern that he may put others at risk in the future by embracing someone with an infectious condition. The question you raise is interesting. Did he know?
Still, this is a very loving act. I suspect the two men do lack physical contact with others.
I wouldn’t do it — too squeamish...
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