during his audience in St. Peter�s Square on 6 November, 2013 (Wednesday). Pope Francis, prayed and blessed the man similarly St. Francis of Assisi, who also embraced a leper. This was truly beautiful an act of compassion in the likeness of Jesus healing the leper in Matthew 8-1-4.
Act of compassion and love,
is what Christ wants each of us to do.
The man was 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 but often face discrimination because of their appearance.
Matthew 8:1-4
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
8 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, �Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.�
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. �I am willing,� he said. �Be clean!� Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, �See that you don�t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.�