Today, December 3rd, marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. In this sense, Pope Francis left a message and received, this morning, in the Vatican, a group of people with physical and visual disabilities.

The Holy Father remembered, through the message with which he marked this day, that this celebration invites us to “understand that our fragility does not overshadow in any way «the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ», but reveals that «this extraordinary power is God’s and not ours» (2 Cor 4, 4.7)”.

Furthermore, he stressed that “communicating the Gospel does not constitute a task reserved to some”, just as “the confidence in the Lord, the experience of His tenderness and the comfort of His company are not privileges reserved to a select few”.

In this morning’s meeting, Pope Francis emphasized that the “acknowledgment of the dignity of each person is a constant responsibility of the Church”, with it being an example of the proximity between Jesus and any man or woman.

As such, the Holy Father called for attention towards the important role that people with disabilities can practice in the world, since “your presence may help transform the realities in which we live in, turning them into more humane and welcoming ones. Without vulnerabilities, without limits, without obstacles to be overcome, there would be no true humanity”.

Pope Francis further explained that “there is, in fact, no inclusion if the experience of fraternity and reciprocal communion is lacking; there is no inclusion if we limit ourselves strictly to a slogan, to a formula to be used in politically correct speeches, to a flag which we appropriated”, adding that “there is no inclusion if a conversion of the practices of coexisting and relationships is missing”.

Towards the end of his speech, during the morning session, the Holy Father appealed for “all of the cristian communities to be a place of “belonging” and “inclusion” in their ordinary pastoral action. Only then may they be credible in proclaiming that the Lord loves all, saves all and invites all to the table of life, with no exception or exclusion”.

To see which four phrases we selected off of the message from the Pope, visit our Instagram.