Pope Francis draws attention to the rare genetic disorder known as Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, and encourages an Italian volunteer association in its efforts to raise awareness.
By Devin Watkins
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder which affects around 1 in 10,000 to 30,000 newborns and leads to slow growth, intellectual disability, and bone abnormalities in the upper body.
Pope Francis met on Saturday with members of the “Cornelia de Lange Association”, an Italian non-profit association, to spread the word about the genetic condition.
He especially greeted an Italian man named Vincenzo Placida, who ran nearly 700 km to arrive at the papal audience.
Mr. Placida began his journey in Vigonovo, near the northern city of Venice, to raise awareness about the Syndrome, by which his daughter Valentina is affected, and to raise money for the association dedicated to helping people like her.
Near to the most vulnerable
The Pope expressed his closeness to all who live with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome.
Pope Francis also thanked the Association’s volunteers for their work to be near “to our most vulnerable brothers and sisters.”
“A culture of solidarity offers a concrete expression of how to build a fraternal society, which has the human person as its center,” he said.
Making society more Christian
The Pope added that volunteers demonstrate the love of God and love of neighbor, in response to Jesus’ invitation in the Gospel.
Pope Francis wrapped up his greetings to the Cornelia de Lange Association with an encouragement to serve others in a spirit of tenacity and unity.
“May you be witnesses to goodness and tenderness!” he said.
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