"We recognize the great development there has been over the course of recent decades with regard to disability. Greater awareness of the dignity of each person, especially of the weakest, has led to the espousal of courageous positions for the inclusion of those who live with various forms of handicap, so that no one should feel like a stranger in his own home. Yet, at the cultural level, through a prevailing false understanding of life, expressions that harm the dignity of these persons still persist. An often narcissistic and utilitarian vision, unfortunately, leads not a few to consider persons with disabilities as marginal, without grasping their manifold human and spiritual richness. In the common mind-set, there is still too strong an attitude of rejection of this condition, as if it prevents one from achieving happiness and self-fulfilment. It is demonstrated by the eugenic trend of ending the lives of the unborn who show some form of imperfection. In reality, we all know many people who, despite even serious fragility, have found, albeit with difficulty, the path of a good life, rich with meaning. Likewise, on the other hand, we know people who are seemingly perfect, yet they despair! After all, it is a perilous deception to think we are invulnerable. As said by a girl whom I met on my recent journey to Colombia: vulnerability is intrinsic to the essential nature of mankind. The answer is love: not that false, saccharine and sanctimonious love, but that which is true, concrete and respectful."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Pope Francis
Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was the head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2013. Francis was the first pope to be a member of the Society of Jesus, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since Gregory III, a Syrian who reigned in the 8th century.
184 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Pope Francis →
Related Quotes
"thumb|right|I love the [[mystics...The mystic manages to strip himself of action, of facts, objectives and even the p…"
"When we resort to violence ... we lose sight of why we are in the world and even end up committing senseless acts of …"
"El cristiano ve a la Iglesia como Cuerpo de Cristo, como el recipiente que guarda Ăntegro el depĂłsito de la fe, como …"
"Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures …"
"Está en juego la vida de tantos niños que serán discriminados de antemano privándolos de la maduración humana que Dio…"
"This is what I want, a poor Church for the poor."
"The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are the image of the Lord, and He does good and all of us have …"
"The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! "Fathe…"
"You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by say…"
"The unjust distribution of goods persists, creating a situation of social sin that cries out to Heaven and limits the…"