Pope Francis uses sign language at General Audience
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis began his weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday by greeting people in sign language.
The message of greeting – which involves raising one’s arms, and then turning your hand with the palms out – was for a pilgrimage group from the National Board for the Deaf, which is based in Florence.
There was also a group of pilgrims from the Italian Union of the Blind, based in Latina.
When greeting the sick and infirm at the end of the Audience, Pope Francis invoked Pope St. Gregory VII – whose feast day was being celebrated on Wednesday.
“May he encourage you, dear sick people, to confront your moments of suffering with faith,” Pope Francis said.