Severely Disfigured Man Approaches Pope Francis and the Pontiff Does What Can Only Be Described as Awe-Inspiring

Pope Francis has done it again. Just weeks after inspiring and captivating the world by compassionately embracing a man covered in tumors, the pontiff provided comfort and joy to yet another severely disfigured individual.

At the end of his address to the general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Wednesday, Francis spoke with a man whose face is severely deformed, embracing and blessing him and at one point gesturing toward the sky.

The below image shows the embrace, however it does not offer a glimpse at the unnamed man's face, which appears to have sustained major injury.

Pope Francis hugs a sick or disabled person at the end of his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013. At the end of the general audience, Pope Francis dedicates a few minutes greeting sick or disabled people. (AP/Gregorio Borgia)

Little is known about the man or how he lost major portions of his facial structure, however his touching interaction with the pontiff provides yet another memorable moment that will surely tug at the heartstrings of people around the globe.

The following photo shows the man's face as he speaks with Francis:

Credit: Evandro Inetti/ZUMAPRESS.com

Earlier this week it was revealed that the first individual who captured international attention earlier this month after interacting with the pope is 53-year-old Vinicio Riva from Vicenza, Italy.

Riva told Panorama, an Italian magazine, that he suffers from von Recklinghausen’s disease, a disorder that impacts cell growth. In an exclusive interview, Riva shared information about his disorder, his background and what it was like to interact with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis embraces Vinicio Riva in St. Peter’s Square. (Credit: EPA)

"I tried to speak to say something but I was unable to," Riva said of his encounter with Francis, according to a translation of the interview provided by Time magazine. "The emotion was too strong. It lasted a little longer than a minute but it felt as if it were eternity."

The individual shown in Wednesday's photos has not yet spoken out.

(H/T: Daily Mail)

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