In a remarkable display of compassion, Pope Francis encouraged mothers attending a Sunday service in the Sistine Chapel to breastfeed their hungry babies without hesitation. This heartwarming moment occurred during an annual ceremony commemorating the baptism of Jesus, where the Pope baptized 28 infants. Observing that some children might grow restless, he remarked, “The ceremony is a little long, someone’s crying because he’s hungry. That’s the way it is. You mothers, go ahead and breastfeed, without fear. Just like the Virgin Mary nursed Jesus.”
The pontiff’s willingness to address subjects often considered taboo within the Church is noteworthy. For instance, in November, he granted priests the authority to forgive abortions. Shortly after his papacy began in 2013, he famously stated, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?”
This isn’t the first occasion on which Pope Francis has supported public breastfeeding. Two years prior, during the same ceremony, he had similarly urged mothers to feed their babies. Additionally, in a 2013 interview with an Italian journalist, he recounted meeting a young mother who felt embarrassed to breastfeed in public. “I wish to say the same to humanity: give people something to eat! That woman had milk to give to her child; we have enough food in the world to feed everyone.”
Could this be the pivotal moment we need to end the stigma surrounding public breastfeeding? If it’s acceptable in the prestigious Sistine Chapel, surely it should be embraced in parks, malls, and any other public space where a hungry baby might be.
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In summary, Pope Francis’s encouragement for mothers to breastfeed in public spaces like the Sistine Chapel reflects a progressive attitude that could inspire societal change. His remarks challenge the stigma surrounding breastfeeding, emphasizing the need for acceptance and support for mothers everywhere.