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 The Eucharist can ‘rekindle lost hope,’ Pope Leo says at Sunday Mass in Angola A father’s farewell: Journalist recalls personal bond with Pope Francis in new book Pope Leo arrives in Angola, calls for fostering ‘just model of coexistence’ Pope Leo XIV rejects media ‘narrative’ his Africa remarks targeted Trump Pope Leo year one: How Chiclayo’s bishop brought his grounded leadership to global church Pope Leo named one of Time magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2026’ Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
