A Bit of Empathy for the Pope

ABC News reports, in an article by Michael Warren, that Pope Francis still has most of his right lung and is in good health despite having some disabilities.

Visit: Pope Francis Still Has Most of His Right Lung

He does have some limitations from the removal of just the upper part of his right lung and he also has lower-back pain, which affects his walking sometimes and requires use of a cane.

Now, when I read that about that, I felt a big OUCH! How, could someone get on a bus everyday and go to work with lower-back pain? I cannot and never could. When I was younger I did it, and I was eating Vicodins like candy and stopping every two blocks to sit somewhere until the pain passed every time I went to work and every time I went back home. Pope Francis must be a strong man with an ability to tolerate pain even better than I can—and I am pretty good at tolerating pain.

This brings to mind the indelible image of the Pope hugging a young disabled boy recently. That boy looked so happy to get that hug. Doubtless other Popes have done similar things. Yet, I wonder how much empathy they felt. Perhaps a lot. Yet, somehow, with this Pope, that empathy seems more obvious. Maybe that is why he has such concern for poor people. He knows that poverty breeds hunger, bad diets and disabilities. And disabilities, conversely contribute to poverty.

It is not easy for people with chronic conditions—especially those that cause constant pain—to travel to work every day. Standing on crowded subways and busses. Dealing with jostling crowds. Sitting at desks with chairs that are not so ergonomically fit to relieve pain. Getting up and down to get things and do work. OUCH! Been There, Done That, whole nine yards! 

I thank G-d everyday that I can now telecommute. It reduces my use of painkillers and allows me to function better. I only hope that Pope Francis will accept a car and a desk and chair that won't cause him pain, because I don't want anybody to go through that. It may give him empathy but I think he has quite enough of that right now. Surely, he has enough empathy to help make people more aware of the daily struggles people with disabilities face.