Pope Francis reportedly voiced support for breastfeeding at a baptismal service at the Sistine Chapel Sunday (Jan. 11).
The pontiff was delivering a prepared homily when he said that mothers should not hesitate to feed their children.
Christian Today reports Francis said, "You mothers give your children milk and even now, if they cry because they are hungry, breastfeed them, don't worry...Because they are the most important people here.”
This was not the first time Pope Francis has voiced support for breastfeeding. In a previous interview with La Stampa, Francis recalled a time a baby cried during a general audience.
"I said to her: 'Madam, I think the child's hungry.' 'Yes, it's probably time...' she replied. 'Please give it something to eat!' I said. She was shy and didn't want to breastfeed in public, while the Pope was passing. I wish to say the same to humanity: give people something to eat!" Francis said in the interview.
"That woman had milk to give to her child; we have enough food in the world to feed everyone. If we work with humanitarian organisations and are able to agree all together not to waste food, sending it instead to those who need it, we could do so much to help solve the problem of hunger in the world. I would like to repeat to humanity what I said to that mother: give food to those who are hungry! May the hope and tenderness of the Christmas of the Lord shake off our indifference."
Publication date: January 12, 2015