“It is thought that sick or disabled persons cannot be happy, since they cannot live the lifestyle held up by the culture of pleasure and entertainment.”
These were the powerful words uttered by Pope Francis during a special Mass dedicated to people with disabilities and their caregivers, which took place in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
In a pretty spot on address, Francis condemned a society that obsessively pursues bodily perfection, “hiding” away people with disabilities because their ‘imperfection’ offends.
“In an age when care for one’s body has become an obsession and a big business, anything that is imperfect has to be hidden away, since it threatens the happiness and serenity of the privileged few and endangers the dominant model,” he said.
“Discrimination is a terrible thing,” he continued. “You’re not like me. You go there and I stay here!’ Each of us has a different way of understanding things.”
Many disabled people took part in the Mass, with one little girl with Down syndrome making her presence known to the pope. And when he called her up, he used her spirit as an example of the beauty of a world with all kind of different people in it.
“This one’s not afraid,” he laughed, as she planted a kiss on his cheek. “She takes risks. She know that diversity is a richness.”
Watch his full address here:
Whatever your religion, there's no doubt the pope's words are universally inspirational, and needed more than ever.
