Pope Francis embraces man with tumorous disease [CNA]

[CNA_News]

Vatican City, Nov 6, 2013 / 02:30 pm (CNA).- At the end of the Nov. 6 general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis drew attention by warmly embracing a man who suffers from a rare disease causing neuronal tumors all over his body.

The man was identified as suffering from neurofibromatosis, which causes great pain and can result in paralysis, impaired vision, deafness, mental retardation, migraines and even cancer. Treatment of the condition is very complicated.

People with this disease – which is genetic and not contagious – often face discrimination because of their appearance.

As he carried out his typical greeting of pilgrims at the conclusion of the general audience, Pope Francis paused for several minutes to receive the sick man in his arms.

Moments later, he took the man’s face in his hands, kissed him, and gave him a blessing.

The gesture is the latest in a series of actions by the Holy Father that have drawn attention for their warmth and affection towards the marginalized in society. Previously, the Pope made headlines by visiting imprisoned youth, responding to letters with personal phone calls, and inviting the local homeless to dine at St. Peter’s Square.

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Full article…

 

[Monica02]

Okay - he hugged someone. So what? I and several others worked on an church project for a couple of days with a lady with the same disease.

Did not previous popes embrace people? Did they kick people to the curb?

Pope Francis sure gets tons of press for a guy who is supposed to be so humble.

 

[meltzerboy]

Okay - he hugged someone. So what? I and several others worked on an church project for a couple of days with a lady with the same disease.

Did not previous popes embrace people? Did they kick people to the curb?

Pope Francis sure gets tons of press for a guy who is supposed to be so humble.

Did Pope Francis ask for press coverage as in a photo op? He is to be commended for his humility and compassion, not denounced. You too are to be commended for your work. This is not a competition.

 

[Monica02]

Did Pope Francis ask for press coverage as in a photo op? He is to be commended for his humility and compassion, not denounced. You too are to be commended for your work. This is not a competition.

Your comments are very true but I am always wondering why the media is so fixated on every little thing Pope Francis does. Do they know something we don’t?

I do feel the media is portraying Francis as a “luv the poor type of guy” while portraying previous popes as mean, uncaring, doctrinal monsters.

 

[meltzerboy]

Your comments are very true but I am always wondering why the media is so fixated on every little thing Pope Francis does. Do they know something we don’t?

I do feel the media is portraying Francis as a “luv the poor type of guy” while portraying previous popes as mean, uncaring, doctrinal monsters.

Monsters? I hadn’t noticed that previous popes, at least in the modern age, were portrayed by the media in such a negative light. It seems to me, for example, that Pope John Paul was portrayed in a very positive light.

 

[McCall1981]

Your comments are very true but I am always wondering why the media is so fixated on every little thing Pope Francis does. Do they know something we don’t?

I do feel the media is portraying Francis as a “luv the poor type of guy” while portraying previous popes as mean, uncaring, doctrinal monsters.

I totally agree.

 

[Used2beSherryG]

Your comments are very true but I am always wondering why the media is so fixated on every little thing Pope Francis does. Do they know something we don’t?

I do feel the media is portraying Francis as a “luv the poor type of guy” while portraying previous popes as mean, uncaring, doctrinal monsters.

Their intent is to portray that the Catholic Church is CHANGING it’s teachings. which is stupid on their part as usual. Its obvious that they do not have the slightest idea what the Church teaches nor do they realize that Pope Francis is using them to highlight the Church is the most positive light. When he said that we need not focus on the issue of homosexuality the press went wild on that and speculated that changes were coming! All the press is very good for the Catholic Church as the only true beacon of hope in the world. Many people have become interested in finding out more about what the church teaches as a result. This is a very good thing.
The press was very good with JPII and eventually came around on Pope Benedict XVI. They would love to contribute to the demise of the church but of course that will never happen

 

[saggal]

If you look at these pictures and your first response is, “So what? Photo Op!,” I’d say a look at your conscience is in order.

Your accusations echo those made by Christopher Hutchens against Blessed Mother Teresa – that she was an egotist who made sure she had photo ops at every turn.

Was it a photo op when Blessed John Paul II met with the man who shot him and forgave him? There were photos of that. Or the numerous photos of Benedict XVI embracing children and the sick in St. Peter’s Square?

I would hazard a guess that since 5/13/81, there hasn’t been a day that photographers haven’t covered a Papal appearance in the Square.

And most importantly, isn’t this the face of the Church we WANT people to see???

 

[TRH1292]

Don’t be the older brother who won’t come into the wedding feast.

 

[clem456]

Don’t be the older brother who won’t come into the wedding feast.

 

[savone]

I have wondered, even had doubts, about the Holy Father. When Cardinal Ratzinger was elevated to the Chair of Saint Peter, I remember thinking that in John Paul II we had the “heart” of Christ. Perhaps, with Benedict XVI, we might have the “mind” of Christ. Now, as time has passed and not because of this single act alone, I am beginning to wonder whether we are seeing in Francis the “soul” of Christ. I wonder . . . and I pray.

 

[admiror]

Regardless of how happenstance his action might be and of the fact that plenty of other past popes have embraced the ill and disabled, as someone who has neurofibromatosis, albeit in a much milder form, I was touched by the gesture. Particularly when collogues have suggested to me that I ought to consider not having children at the risk of passing on more severe versions (and thus as a Catholic, this would mean not getting married, although as non-Catholics, they don’t understand that), seeing a gesture like this reminds me that everyone has dignity simply because they are loved by God. I’m glad I saw the picture.

That said, NF isn’t especially rare (1/3500 people), nor is it necessarily painful as the article described. It’s a diverse condition and I fear the statements about it in these articles will add to the scary reputation NF has.

 

[Oren]

Your comments are very true but I am always wondering why the media is so fixated on every little thing Pope Francis does. Do they know something we don’t?

I do feel the media is portraying Francis as a “luv the poor type of guy” while portraying previous popes as mean, uncaring, doctrinal monsters.

Agree. I found it very alarming when Pope Francis declared that he had the humility to do ecumenicism right. As if we haven’t been doing ecumenism and as if the previous two popes were not humble. He likes declaring his own humility way too much and it is troubling.

 

[sennincatholic]

Agree. I found it very alarming when Pope Francis declared that he had the humility to do ecumenicism right. As if we haven’t been doing ecumenism and as if the previous two popes were not humble. He likes declaring his own humility way too much and it is troubling.

i guess i missed that.please quote the source where he said he was humble.

 

[Santi2]

He likes declaring his own humility way too much and it is troubling.

By equal measure, it is troubling that there are those who pass judgment on the Holy Father and his actions.

 

[_Abyssinia]

Is their video of Pope Francis’ interaction with the man?

 

[ajecphotos]

Okay - he hugged someone. So what? I and several others worked on an church project for a couple of days with a lady with the same disease.

Did not previous popes embrace people? Did they kick people to the curb?

Pope Francis sure gets tons of press for a guy who is supposed to be so humble.

That is not a very nice post.

Pope Francis is a real Saint. A truly great pope who deserves this press and realisation that here is one member of our faith who loves the ‘normal’ people.

I applaud him and thank God for him.

 

[alexandratm]

I have wondered, even had doubts, about the Holy Father. When Cardinal Ratzinger was elevated to the Chair of Saint Peter, I remember thinking that in John Paul II we had the “heart” of Christ. Perhaps, with Benedict XVI, we might have the “mind” of Christ. Now, as time has passed and not because of this single act alone, I am beginning to wonder whether we are seeing in Francis the “soul” of Christ. I wonder . . . and I pray.

You’ve phrased this beautifully. While I respected and liked John Paul and Benedict, Pope Francis has somehow tugged on my heart. Loving Pope Francis and feeling moved by him does not mean that a person is denigrating the previous popes - merely that their strengths were perhaps different facets of Christ.

In part, Pope Francis spurred me to pray the rosary, to more seriously consider Catholicism, and to begin RCIA. Why is there something wrong with that? It saddens me to see people detracting from his charisma and appeal, as if being likeable was somehow wrong. Shouldn’t we be happy he is inspiring people to look more toward the church and acting with Chist-like love?

 

[willie_duggan]

The Office of the Pope has always embraced those who suffer from physical and mental disability, closest.

All occupants of that Office make a point of embracing those who are less fortunate than the majority of us.

What Francis did in embracing that unfortunate person is no different to what his papal predecessors have always done.

All Pontiffs are aware that bringing witness to the suffering of others is central to the mission bequeathed by Jesus Christ.
That witness is magnificent, I think.

 

[seekerz]

Reading these comments is an enlightening experience. We ask God for good leaders and when we get them…