Vatican City, Apr 2, 2013 / 05:05 am
The Vatican is observing World Autism Awareness Day by calling on Christians to recognize the Risen Christ in autistic people and increase solidarity with them.
"The Council wishes to share with people who suffer because of autism, the hope and certainty that adherence to Love enables us to recognize the Risen Christ every time that he makes himself our neighbor on the journey of life," said the president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski.
"Setting oneself to listen must necessarily be accompanied by an authentic fraternal solidarity," the archbishop said in his April 2 message.
Today is the sixth year of World Autism Awareness Day, and the Vatican released the message to express solidarity with those suffering from the disorder and their families.