14 DAY TRIAL // Vinicio Riva is the name of the terribly disfigured man who made the headlines after being embraced and kissed by Pope Francis in Rome. The man suffers from a horrible genetic disease called neorofibromatosis that left him covered in swellings and lumps.
A condition associated with the “Elephant Man,” neorofibromatosis is carried from one generation to another in most of the cases, but it can also be developed after birth due to a genetic mutation. The symptoms of the disease consist of unusual growths and swellings on the face and body of the carrier. The disease in not contagious and neither cancerous, the unusual lumps being caused by the excessive growth of the cells.
Vinicio, who is now 53 years-old, inherited the disease from his late mother and until the age of 15, he didn't show any signs of suffering from the unusual condition. After the growths started appearing on his face and body, Vinicio was pulled from school by his father and forced to work in constructions.
The condition spread all over his body, and at the moment the only spot that is not covered with the painful growths is his left cheek which is warped, according to Daily Mail. Besides the horrible growths covering him entirely, Riva is also in a big amount of pain, his feet being deformed because of the sores and making it extremely hard for him to walk.
Vinicio's mother Rosaria died because of this condition at the age of 81. Vinicio's sister, Morena, on the other hand seems to be experiencing a milder case of the disease. Rosaria was the carrier of the disease, but the woman didn't experience any of the symptoms until she gave birth to her first child.
Mr. Riva had a hard time living with the condition not only because of the pain but also because of people's perception and rejection. People call him the “Elephant Man” or cross on the other side of the street when they see him approaching. “Those who I have known for a long time are kind; the others are horrible,” Vinicio tells DailyMail.
When remembering his meeting with Pope Francis, Vinicio recalls feeling as if he was in paradise, “first, I kissed his hand while with the other hand he caressed my head and wounds. Then he drew me to him in a strong embrace, kissing my face. My head was against his chest his arms were wrapped around me. It lasted just over a minute, but to me it seemed like an eternity.”
The photograph of Pope Francis and Vinicio Riva made it across the world and drew comparisons between the Pope and Saint Francis of Assisi who was also known for embracing the ill and the wounded. Since the event, Pope Francis' popularity grew even more, inspiring Catholic Christians from all over the world.