Officials of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and the Synod of Bishops held an online listening session with 30 persons with disabilities from 20 countries. The theme of the May 19 gathering was “The Church is your home: The contribution of people with disabilities to the Synod on Synodality.”

“At birth, I could have been aborted,” said a French catechist with Down syndrome. “I am happy to live. I love everyone, and I thank God for creating me.”

“I’m in debt to people with disabilities,” said Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops. “One of them lead me to path priestly vocation. If the face of the disabled brother or sister is discarded, it is the Church that becomes disabled.”