Members of the French association of blind people 'Voir ensemble', or 'See Together,' visited Pope Francis at the Vatican.
A visually impaired priest told him the story of how the Jesuit priest, Fr. Yves Mollat founded the organization in 1927.
Another of its members also recalled their meeting with Pope John Paul II.
Pope Francis took the opportunity to ask Christians not to be indifferent and to cultivate an attitude of closeness and encounter with all kinds of people.
POPE FRANCIS
'Today, unfortunately, we are accustomed to perceiving only the exterior of things, the most superficial aspect. Our culture says that people are worthy of interest according to their physical appearance, their clothes, if their houses are nice, their luxury cars, their social position, their wealth.'
The Pope then quoted the famous French children's book 'The Little Prince,' which says that 'only with the heart can one see well; what is essential is invisible to the eyes.'
The association currently has 3,000 members, and assists over 2,000 people by organizing trips and other training activities.
That's why the Pope sent them off with a special blessing.
JMB-SO
TR: JM
