Pope: Places, mentalities must be more receptive to people with disabilities November 29, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Making places more accessible for people with disabilities requires removing physical barriers and adjusting attitudes to be more open and inclusive, Pope Francis said. A screengrab from Pope Francis’ video message released Nov. 28, 2023, shows two women smiling as part of his prayer intention for the month of December: “for people with disabilities.” (CNS screengrab/Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network) The pope’s prayer intention for the month of December is dedicated to “people with disabilities,” and in his video message, he said, “programs and initiatives are needed that promote their inclusion.” The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, formerly known as the Apostleship of Prayer, released the monthly pope video Nov. 28. “People with disabilities are among the most fragile among us,” he said. “Some of them suffer rejection, rooted in either ignorance or prejudice, which then marginalizes them.” “Civil institutions need to support their projects through access to education, employment, and places where they can express their creativity,” he said. But “above all else,” the pope said, “big hearts are needed.” “It means changing our mentality a little and opening ourselves to the abilities and talents of these people who are differently abled, both in society as well as in the life of the church,” the pope said. “And so, creating a completely accessible parish does not only mean eliminating physical barriers,” he said. “It also assumes that we stop talking about ‘them’ and start talking about ‘us.'” “Let us pray that people with disabilities may be at the center of attention in society and that institutions offer inclusion programs that enhance their active participation,” he said. Read More Vatican News Holy Spirit opens doors of peace, truth and forgiveness, pope says Maronite patriarch who championed Lebanese independence among sainthood causes advanced by Pope Leo Ukrainian nun on front lines meets Pope Leo, pleads for help to ‘end the war’ What is Anthropic? A look at the company joining Pope Leo for AI encyclical release Pope will find a living, growing Church in Madrid, Spanish cardinal says What exactly is an encyclical? Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
