Pope Francis Kisses Sick Man With Boils Showing The Healing Power Of Compassion

[rug]

The Huffington Post | By Yasmine Hafiz
Posted: 11/06/2013 2:55 pm EST | Updated: 11/06/2013 5:35 pm EST

Pope Francis' compassionate nature was poignantly captured in this image of him tenderly comforting a sick man by kissing him on the head.



Pope Francis caresses a sick person in Saint Peter's Square at the end of his General Audience in Vatican City, 06 November 2013.

Though the man's face was disfigured with appears to be boils, the Pope laid his hands on his head and screwed his eyes up tightly in prayer. Earlier in his general address, he asked the assembled crowd to pray for a sick little girl that he had just met



Pope Francis tweeted earlier this year, "The Pope must serve all people, especially the poor, the weak, the vulnerable." The photos really speak for themselves with regards to his genuine concern for humanity.

Truly moving.

See more incredible photos of Pope Francis and the sick man here.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/pope-francis-sick-man-boils_n_4227595.html

It looks like the mas suffers from neurofibromatosis. I expect we'll hear much more of this man and this event.

Iconic.

[Peregrine Took]

1. I believe that is a genuine skin condition - not merely boils.

I have a friend who has a much milder case but its still the same thing.

[TommyCelt]

2. Whatever this poor man's disfiguring condition is...

Last edited Thu Nov 7, 2013, 12:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Pope Francis is certainly living up to his namesake. I tear up every time I look at this series of pictures, both for the man, and for the near-unbelievable well of compassion from our Papa.

A friend of mine (sort of a 'retired' Catholic) has challenged me to come up with something Francis has DONE as far as Church teaching, i.e. - married priests, women priests, equality for homosexuals, etc. I acknowledged there's been no doctrinal changes. Then he sneered "Then what good does he do???"

I answered with 2 words.

"He inspires."

[Peregrine Took]

3. Amen!

My super conservative relatives don't like him at all! I think he is great - what a breath of fresh air after Benedict. I hope he never changes and am still in awe that he even got elected. How did that happen?

It sure wasn't with much help from the Americans.

[demosincebirth]

4. I hope he lives to be, at least, 100 years old

[hrmjustin]

5. I hope this moment gives this man strength.

[ChazII]

6. I am not a Catholic but

I do share the same genetic disorder, Neurofibromatosis. What the Pope did gave him strength as well as the NF community around the world.

[hrmjustin]

7. Hugs my friend.

I am not RC either but I am glad he did this.

[UrbScotty]

8. That man has spoken up about his experience

The photo roused emotions and sparked conversations around the world - but the man at the center of the image says the moment left him speechless.

"I tried to speak, to tell him something, but I couldn't: The emotion was too strong," says Vinicio Riva, the disfigured man embraced by Pope Francis in images that went viral.

"It all lasted not more than a minute, but it seemed an eternity," Riva told the Italian magazine Panorama this weekend.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/18/disfigured-man-embraced-by-pope-i-felt-only-love/

[rug]

9. Thanks for the update. It's good to know the man's name.