Pope says physically impaired are specially called to be witnessed of Jesus

March 29, 2014 - Pope Francis on Saturday assured those afflicted by physical impairment that God has chosen them to be His witnesses in helping transform today’s culture of exclusion and prejudice into one of encounter and inclusion. He was speaking to some 6000 deaf and blind from all over Italy as well as representatives from Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain, US, England and Malta, who were brought together in the Vatican by the Apostolic Movement of the Blind, the Congregation of the Little Mission for Deaf and Dumb and others. Reflecting on the theme, “Witnesses of the Gospel for a Culture of Encounter,” the Pope said that before being a witness of the Gospel one has first of all to meet and know Jesus, or rather be touched by Him profoundly.

Citing the example of the Samaritan woman in the Gospel, the Pope said, Jesus particularly wanted the marginalized, the excluded and the despised to be His witnesses. Jesus looked out for those afflicted by sickness and disability in order to heal and give them back their dignity. Referring to Sunday’s Gospel episode of the man born blind, the Pope said, by healing him Jesus radically rejected as blasphemy, the mindset that the man’s blindness was punishment from God. While the leaders of Pharisees were judging the blind as well as Jesus sinners, the healed man defended Jesus and professed his faith in Jesus. Pointing to the opposing cultures of encounter and that of exclusion and prejudice, the Pope said it is because of their fragility and limitations that the sick and disabled can become witnesses of encounter. In fact, only one who recognizes his or her fragility and limitations can build brotherly relations based on solidarity, in the Church and in society, the Pope added.