Pope Francis has given mothers of infants permission to breastfeed in the Sistine Chapel.
During a ceremony to baptize 33 babies on Sunday, the Pontiff told mothers in attendance that they should feel free to breastfeed if necessary.
“You mothers give your children milk and even now, if they cry because they are hungry, breastfeed them, don’t worry,” he said.
Those remarks were not part of his prepared homily.
The phrase he had planned to use during the meeting was “give them milk.” However, he changed it to the Italian phrase “allattateli.” That means “breastfeed them” in English.
The Pope added that they should not hesitate if they believed that their children needed mother’s milk.
Pope Francis also admonished the participants of the ceremony to remember poor mothers around the world.
“Too many… who can’t give food to their children,” he said.
Before the Pope had assured mothers that breastfeeding was acceptable in the Sistine Chapel, one mother was seen nursing her child. It’s possible that she knew that the Pontiff had used similar words in the past to make mothers feel comfortable.
Pope Francis also told the people in attendance that it is impossible to be a Christian outside of the Church.
“Teach your children that you cannot be a Christian outside the Church, you can not follow Jesus Christ without the Church, because the Church is mother, and makes us grow in love for Jesus Christ,” he said.
“Always carry a small Gospel in your pocket, purse, to read it,” the Pope said. “And this will be an example to the children, to see dad, mom, godparents, grandfather, grandmother, uncles, read the Word of God.”
The parents in attendance were all Vatican employees.
The Sistine Chapel is the room where cardinals meet in secret to elect popes. It was painted by Michelangelo in the 16th century.
Francis was the first non-European pope to be elected in 1,300 years.
[Image credit: Wikipedia]
Pope Francis Gives Mothers The Green Light To Breastfeed In The Sistine Chapel
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