The Daily Populous Tuesday September 22nd, 2020 day edition
Authored by apnews.com and submitted by mubukugrappa

Pope Francis delivers his blessing as he recites the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St.Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis told a group of children with autism and spectrum disorders Monday that they are beautiful, unique flowers in the eyes of God.

Francis met with members of an Austrian center for autism, Sonnenschein (“Sunshine”), in an audience at the Vatican. He told them that the center’s name evoked a flower-filled lawn in the sun “and the flowers of this house are you!”

Speaking to the children, their parents and caregivers from the center, Francis said: “God created the world with a great variety of flowers of all different colors. Each flower has its unique beauty. And each one of us is beautiful in the eyes of God, who loves us.”

Francis has a particular soft spot for children, allowing himself even amid coronavirus social distancing protocols to greet and pat them on the head during his public audiences.

He has frequently met with groups of children and parents who are experiencing difficulties in caring for them, hoping to encourage them through sickness, disability, poverty and other challenges.

itsthatkidgreg on September 21st, 2020 at 23:54 UTC »

My mom used to say this to explain why we have different races

djarvis77 on September 21st, 2020 at 20:32 UTC »

This is very nice. I like Pope Francis.

That said, whenever i hear someone say anything about god loving us or you or whatever, i automatically think of that George Carlin bit "...but he loves you!" and crack the fuck up.

the_darkener on September 21st, 2020 at 20:15 UTC »

I was raised Catholic/Christian but denounced my religious ties at an early age.. but now at 40 I wholly understand that all people have their own dispositions and beliefs.

So if you strip away the religious content from The Pope's message, at its core it is a kind and selfless gift to those less fortunate. You can shape that core message into any belief system (or none at all) and it will have the same positive impact on people. Something like, "You are all unique and good and beautiful beings. You are loved."