The touching moment Pope Francis halted his weekly audience to kiss and hold disfigured man with 'Elephant Man' disease

• Pontiff embraced and prayed with the man, who suffers from neurofibromatosis - a rare genetic condition that is not contagious 
• Condition long associated with the 'Elephant Man' Joseph Carey Merrick
• People living with the painful illness are often shunned because of their appearance 
• Earlier in Wednesday's general audience, Pope Francis asked the faithful to pray for a sick girl

Act of kindness: Pope Francis (left) comforts a man covered in boils in Saint Peter's Square at the end of his General Audience in Vatican City

Touching moment: The pontiff kissed the worshiper, who suffers from a rare disease called neurofibromatosis, which is genetic and not contagious  

Read full story here : Dailymail