Pope Francis tells single mother "you respected life…don’t be ashamed"
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis congratulated a single mother on her decision to give birth to two daughters, telling her “Don’t be ashamed.”
The exchange took place during a video link-up on Monday with three different U.S. cities: Chicago, Los Angeles and McAllen, Texas arranged by ABC News.
A clip of Pope Francis’ conversation with single-mother Rosemary Farfan was released on Tuesday.
“It hasn’t been easy for me. I’ve made some mistakes as a person, as a mother,” she told the Pope.
“I’ve felt guilty at times and ashamed. … But every day, I try and I hope and I pray.”
Pope Francis told her he knew “it’s not easy” to be a single mother.
“I know that people can sometimes look askance at you,” the pope said. “You’re a brave woman because you’re capable of bringing these two daughters into the world. … You respected the life you were carrying inside you and God is going to reward you for that and he does reward for you for that. Don’t be ashamed. … I congratulate you.”
ABC News has said different parts of Pope Francis’ video-link up will be released each day until Friday, when the full encounter will air on a one-hour special edition of ABC News’ “20/20” at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.