World Down Syndrome Day: A spotlight on Vatican Radio’s recent intern with Down syndrome

(Vatican Radio) 21st March is World Down Syndrome Day set up to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is and how people with this condition play a vital role in our lives and communities. An Irish Media Studies student with Down syndrome recently did a 2-week internship at Vatican Radio’s English Programme. 33 year old Michael Gannon was the first person with Down syndrome to do an internship at any Vatican office and was afterwards praised for his curiosity, enthusiasm and cheerfulness. Sean Patrick Lovett, the radio station’s head of English programming said the internship was an important experience for the Radio because it made them look at reality from a different perspective and Michael Gannon helped teach them not to take anything for granted.

The highlight of his 2-week internship was a meeting with Pope Francis at the end of his Wednesday general audience that Vatican Radio helped set up for him. In a later interview, Michael Gannon spoke of the emotion of that "special day" for him and his family.

Listen to the full interview with Michael Gannon, recent intern with Vatican Radio: