- ROME, NOV 25 - Pope Francis has told people with
disabilities that "the Church loves you and needs each one of
you to carry out its mission at the service of the Gospel" in a
message for International Day of Persons with Disabilities,
celebrated on December 3.
"Unfortunately, today many of you are still treated like
external bodies of society", the pontiff said in the message
released on Thursday.
Disabled people "feel that they exist without belonging and
without participating" and "there are still many things that
deny you full citizenship", the message also said.
"Discrimination is still too present at various levels of
social life; it feeds prejudice, ignorance and a culture that
struggles to understand the priceless value of each person".
'Church loves you', pope tells disabled people
'Still discriminated against', pontiff says ahead of Dec 3 Day