[video=youtube_share;qlRjxp5ptYI]http://youtu.be/qlRjxp5ptYI[/video]
(CNN) -- It was the embrace that melted hearts worldwide.
Pope Francis, pausing for a moment to pray and lay his hands on a man with a disfiguring disease. The man gently burying his head in the Pope's chest, his many facial tumors visible.
His encounter with the ailing man occurred in Vatican City on Wednesday at the end of the general audience, which had about 50,000 attendees.
Some say Pope Francis is living up to the ideals of his namesake, Francis of Assisi, a preeminent figure who considered himself a servant to the poor and destitute.
Since taking over as the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, the Pope has highlighted the need to reach out to the poor and afflicted.
"Lord, teach us to step outside ourselves," he tweeted in August. "Teach us to go out into the streets and manifest your love."
A month later, he echoed the same sentiment.
"True charity requires courage: let us overcome the fear of getting our hands dirty so as to help those in need," he tweeted.
The Pope has called for open interaction with people from all walks of life, especially the poor, weak and vulnerable.
And he is practicing what he preaches.
The man the Pope comforted suffers from neurofibromatosis. The genetic disorder causes pain and thousands of tumors throughout the body. It leads to hearing and vision loss, heart and blood vessel complications, and severe disability from nerve compression by tumors.
The moment marked the latest in a series of memorable encounters for the Pope.
In the eight months since he was elected pope, the 76-year-old pontiff has emerged as an endearing figure known for his humility and desire to build a more inclusive church.
When a young boy wandered on stage during a homily last month, the pontiff let him stay by his side and even gave him a playful pat on the head.
Pope Francis has stayed true to his humble Jesuit roots by choosing to live a simple life. He has declined to move into the lavish papal apartments and insists on carrying his own bags.
His car of choice for getting around the Vatican? It’s a 1984 Renault.
popes-embrace
(CNN) -- It was the embrace that melted hearts worldwide.
Pope Francis, pausing for a moment to pray and lay his hands on a man with a disfiguring disease. The man gently burying his head in the Pope's chest, his many facial tumors visible.
His encounter with the ailing man occurred in Vatican City on Wednesday at the end of the general audience, which had about 50,000 attendees.
Some say Pope Francis is living up to the ideals of his namesake, Francis of Assisi, a preeminent figure who considered himself a servant to the poor and destitute.
Since taking over as the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, the Pope has highlighted the need to reach out to the poor and afflicted.
"Lord, teach us to step outside ourselves," he tweeted in August. "Teach us to go out into the streets and manifest your love."
A month later, he echoed the same sentiment.
"True charity requires courage: let us overcome the fear of getting our hands dirty so as to help those in need," he tweeted.
The Pope has called for open interaction with people from all walks of life, especially the poor, weak and vulnerable.
And he is practicing what he preaches.
The man the Pope comforted suffers from neurofibromatosis. The genetic disorder causes pain and thousands of tumors throughout the body. It leads to hearing and vision loss, heart and blood vessel complications, and severe disability from nerve compression by tumors.
The moment marked the latest in a series of memorable encounters for the Pope.
In the eight months since he was elected pope, the 76-year-old pontiff has emerged as an endearing figure known for his humility and desire to build a more inclusive church.
When a young boy wandered on stage during a homily last month, the pontiff let him stay by his side and even gave him a playful pat on the head.
Pope Francis has stayed true to his humble Jesuit roots by choosing to live a simple life. He has declined to move into the lavish papal apartments and insists on carrying his own bags.
His car of choice for getting around the Vatican? It’s a 1984 Renault.
popes-embrace
