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The touching moment Pope Francis halted hisweekly audience to kiss and hold disfigured
man with 'Elephant Man' disease
Pontiff embraced and prayed with the man, who suffers from neurofibromatosis -
a rare genetic condition that is not contagious
Condition long associated with the 'Elephant Man' Joseph Carey Merrick
People liv ing wi th the painful illness are often shunned because of their
appearanceEarlier in Wednesday's general audience, Pope Francis asked the faithful to pray
for a sick girl
By Snejana Farberov
PUBLISHED: 00:51 GMT, 7 November 2013 | UPDATED: 01:42 GMT, 8 November 2013
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Pope Francis has won the admiration of his followers for his common touch and his accessibility.
And yesterday his compassion for a disfigured man prompted comparisons to the 13th Century's StFrancis of Assisi.
The Pope kissed and prayed with the ailing man who was battling neurofibromatosis - the rare disease saidto have affected the Elephant Man.
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Act o f kindness: Pope Francis (left) comforts a man covered in bo ils in Saint Peter' s
Square at the end of his General Audience in Vatican City
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Touching moment: The pontiff kissed the worshiper, who suffers from a rare disease
called neurofibromatosis, w hich is genetic and not contagious
Images of Pope Francis comforting the ailing worshiper were taken at the end of the general audienceWednesday, when a man covered in neuronal tumors approached the leader of the Catholic Church askingfor a blessing.
Famous namesake: The pope has drawn comparisons to St Francis of Assisi - a revered
13th century holy figure, who according to legend kissed a leper
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The man reportedly suffers from the rare and painful disease, which causes growths, impaired vision and insome cases cancer, according to the Catholic News Agency.
Patients suffering from the ailment, which is genetic and not contagious - are often shunned by societybecause of their appearance.
Pope Francis has been widely praised for his common touch and accessibility.
Since being elected to the Holy See earlier this year, the pontiff has made headlines around the world by
washing the feet of juvenile delinquents, personally calling distraught worshipers on the phone and invitinghomeless people to dine at St Peter's Square.
On Wednesday, the leader of the worlds 1.3billion Catholics was greeting pilgrims following his weeklypublic audience when he took a break to comfort the disfigured believer.
Pope Francis then kissed the man on the face and blessed him. He was photographed with his eyes tightlyshut in prayer.
Show stealer: Last month, the pontiff allowed a young boy t o remain on stage with him
as he delivered a speech to 150,000 worshipers, occasionally patting the boy's head
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Pontiff's penitence: Pope Francis washes the foot of a prisoner at Casal del Marmo youth
prison in Rome March 28, 2013
Earlier in todays audience, the pope asked the people assembled in the square to pray for a sick little girlhe had just met.
Last week, the pontiff allowed a little boy to remain on stage with him and cling to his leg during a speech in
front of a crowd of 150,000.
Earlier this year, Francis tweeted to his 3.2million followers: The Pope must serve all people, especially thepoor, the weak, the vulnerable.
On Tuesday, the pontiff fired off this message: We need courage if we are to be faithful to the Gospel.
Pope gets photobombed. Boy refuses to leave Vatican stage
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WHAT IS NEUROFIBROMATOSIS?
Neurofibromatosis has long been associated with the 'Elephant Man,' the name given to
Joseph Carey Merrick, who was severely disfigured. But evidence now suggests he was
suffering from another rare syndrome
The man who met Pope Francis is believed to be suffering from a condition called neurofibromatosis thename for a number of genetic conditions that cause swellings or lumps.
Although many people who have the condition inherit it from one of their parents, up to 50 per cent developit randomly from a gene mutation before they are born.
There are two types of neurofibromatosis and this man is suffering from type one, Dr Anand Saggar, aLondon-based genetics expert, told MailOnline.
Despite their alarming appearance, the growths and swellings - called neurofibromas and caused by agrowth of cells - are not cancerous or contagious.
The condition has long been associated with the Elephant Man, the name given to Joseph Carey Merrick,who was severely disfigured.
However, in 1986, a new theory emerged that Mr Merrick may actually have had Proteus syndrome, acondition which involves symptoms such as abnormal growth of the bones, skin and head.
The confusion was again compounded in 2001 when it was proposed that he had suffered from acombination of neurofibromatosis type one (NF1) and Proteus syndrome.
However, DNA tests on his hair and bones have proven inconclusive.
Other symptoms of neurofibromatosis type one include flat, light brown spots on the skin.
These harmless marks, also called cafe au lait spots, are common in many people. People who have morethan six spots that are bigger than half a centimetre wide should get investigated for NF1.
NF1 is a condition someone is born with, although some symptoms develop gradually over many years.The severity of the condition can vary considerably from person to person.
People with NH1 are more likely to suffer from learning difficulties and behavioural problems, a type ofcancer known as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours, which affect around 10 per cent of people withNF1 over their lifetime, vision problems, high blood pressure and a curved spine.
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Comments (1777)
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fedup394,Fairbanks Alaska, 2 hours ago
They aren't boils, they are tumors. Check your facts folks.
416
Jesuis,Reading, 2 hours ago
Finally a true leader of western values.
140
Indy,Choma, Zambia, 3 hours ago
If there is one who is compassionate, loving, caring, kind, tender, empathetic, simple and gentle, that's him- Pope Francis and myrespect for this man is growing day on day every time I read these wonderful articles. Keeping religion aside, what an examplehe is as a human being for all to follow.
088
mariamac,london, 3 hours ago
Thank God. A man with humility and kindness and hopefully a lot more!
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mariamac,london, 3 hours ago
Wow. What a pope and what an example. True humility and caring for others. Great to see, I think more good things lie ahead forCatholicism with this man at the helm.
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SecretSquirrel,Exposing Those Nuts, United States, 3 hours ago
God's Rock Star! Go Team Catholics!
844
cdemoneya,Houston, United States, 3 hours ago
in the words of the cardinal in the "Pope must die" movie - "Hello Papa, God you're the best pope we ever had" #truethat
422
Damian,Elsewhere, Afghanistan, 3 hours ago
Get off your knees, that prisoner should be on his scrubbing the floors, not being pampered
609
Darkrunner,Triton, 3 hours ago
The Catholic Church has needed to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck for a long time and shook about. There have beengood Popes and bad ones, but Pope Francis is certainly living up to his namesake.
668
me_ nowhere,Adelaide, Australia, 3 hours ago
For once they have a decent Pope. It's more than him kissing this man but the fact that he's interested in the homeless and othersick people. He really cares. I'm not a catholic and never will be but the church has been a mess for so long. This man may beable to drag it up a little. He does have a kind heart. For once.
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