Work of GOD:Pope moved the world when he embraced victim of terrible disease, his compassion brings a moment of joy to another disfigured man

Since he was elected eight months ago, Pope Francis has been seen to wash the feet of juvenile delinquents, personally call distraught worshipers on the phone and invite homeless people to dine at St Peter's Square.

Earlier this year, Francis tweeted to his 3.2million followers: ’The Pope must serve all people, especially the poor, the weak, the vulnerable.’

Earlier this month, pictures showing the touching moment when the Pontiff showed his compassion for Vincino Riva, 53, who suffers from neurofibromatosis - the rare disease said to have affected the Elephant Man.

Together in prayer: The Pope and the disabled man shared a private moment where Francis I gestured up to the sky

Personal connection: Pope Francis leant in to hug and kiss the man and give him his blessing at the end of his audience in the Vatican today

Bringer of joy: Pope Francis has made a habit of dedicating time to greet and bless sick or disabled people at the end of the general audience

Pope Francis halted his round after the general audience and put his hands on Mr Riva, kissed, hugged and prayed with him.

Mr Riva said the pontiff's hug was 'like paradise', adding: 'He didn't even think about whether or not to hug me. 

'I'm not contagious, but he didn't know that. But he just did it: he caressed me all over my face, and as he did I felt only love.'

Act of kindness: Pope Francis (left) comforted Vinicio Riva, a 53-year-old Italian who had travelled to Rome for a audience in Saint Peter's Square earlier this month

Rome meeting: The pontiff kissed Mr Riva, who suffers from neurofibromatosis, which is genetic and not contagious

Painful: Vinicio Riva with a picture of his late mother Rosaria, who suffered from the same condition he does

POPE GIVES OUT MEDICINE FOR THE HEART

This weekend the Pope offered 'boxes of mercy' to pilgrims in St Peter's square.

Some 20,000 boxes, designed to look like a packet of painkillers, were illustrated with a human heart and contained a rosary.

Addressing the crowd in ST Peter's Square the Pontiff said: 'I now want to suggest a medicine. "What" you ask, "the pope is now a pharmacist?"' 

The instruction leaflet, available in several languages read: 'Can be used once a day, but in case of emergency can be taken as much as the soul needs.

The so-called 'Pope Francis Effect' has been credited with a 20 per cent rise in Catholic congregations in Britain, and similar boosts around the world.

New and lapsed Catholics are surging back to the confession box 'by the hundreds or thousands', according to the Italian Centre for Studies of New Religions.

In Italy half of priests have noted a marked rise in support for the church.

The Italian opinion poll Opinioni reported this week that more than four in five Italians have a 'positive' or 'extremely positive' opinion of the Pope.

Spain, which had been experiencing a decades-long slump, has also seen attendance figures begin to climb since the pontiff's appointment. 

Catholic leaders in France, the USA and Latin America have also reported growth in the numbers of churchgoing Catholics.

And Latin America - already the biggest single source of Catholic pilgrims to Italy - saw numbers of pilgrims to the centre of the faith rise by 20 per cent from the same period

Source: Daily Mail