Pope Francis called for a “culture of inclusion,” which breaks down barriers to ensure that people with disabilities can more fully take part in church communities and civil society ahead of World Autism Awareness Day.
In a meeting with an autism association at the Vatican on Friday Pope Francis expressed the importance of supporting education, employment, and social opportunities for people with all types of disabilities.
“Disability, in all its forms, represents a challenge and an opportunity to build together a more inclusive and civil society, where family members, teachers, and associations like yours are not left alone but are supported,” the Pope said in the meeting on 1 April.
“For this reason, it is necessary to continue to raise awareness about the various aspects of disability, breaking down prejudices and promoting a culture of inclusion and belonging, based on the dignity of the person.”
The Pope underlined that the Church in particular is called to help those with disabilities to “make their voices heard.”
“The Covid-19 pandemic has had a very serious impact, especially on the most vulnerable, on the elderly, on people with disabilities and their families. In recent weeks, the tragedy of the war in Ukraine has been added: let’s think of those who are most disadvantaged,” he said.
World Autism Awareness Day takes place each year on 2 April. It was established by the United Nations in 2008 to promote the rights and well-being of people who live with learning differences and developmental disabilities.