Pope Francis Photo Praying With Tumor-Covered Man Goes Viral

A powerful photo of Pope Francis embracing a severely disfigured man covered in tumors touched the hearts of people all over the world this week as the image went viral on social media.

It happened Wednesday after the pontiff's general address in St. Peter's Square. He approached the man, tenderly kissed his head, and prayed with him for several moments as they embraced, the man burying his head in the pope's chest.

Pope Francis embraces and prays with severely disfigured man http://t.co/xYUNuIX7Ly pic.twitter.com/7cmmjBEKsI

— Daily Mail Pics (@DailyMailPics) November 7, 2013

"Pope Francis paused for several minutes to receive the sick man in his arms." http://t.co/pqXrSyrepW pic.twitter.com/v7NcxwkRCd

— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 7, 2013

The photos drew an emotional reaction from Twitter users, who saw it as a poignant display of compassion.

http://t.co/kByrj7IgKf I'm an atheist, but the more I hear about Pope Francis, the more I like him.

— Donna Hosie (@donnahosie) November 7, 2013

How truly beautful this is. This changed the kind of day I was having. @Pontifex embraces a severely disfigured man http://t.co/LgJCiD1C35

— Nathalie Godbout (@ngodbout) November 7, 2013

THIS = Christian faith. Love our new pope. Pope Francis, a severely disfigured man and an embrace that went viral http://t.co/pdexWRWTO8 #FB

— Kim Howard, CAE (@KimHowardDC) November 7, 2013

Did you see photos of Pope Francis embracing a terribly disfigured man? Moved me to tears. He is wonderful example to all humanity.

— Marjorie Young (@psychicmargie) November 7, 2013

The man likely suffers from neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes thousands of tumors to grow on a person's nerve tissue underneath the skin, according to CNN Health.

 
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