This isn't just a slogan, but a commitment we must foster, he continued.
"The strength and conviction with which we pronounce these words derive precisely from what Jesus himself taught us," he said, noting that throughout his ministry, Jesus "met many sick people; he took on their suffering; he tore down the walls of stigma and of marginalization that prevented so many of them from feeling respected and loved."
Pope Francis spoke during a conference organized at the Vatican hosting people affected by Huntington's disease, along with their families and caretakers.
Huntington's disease is characterized by rapid, uncontrollable muscle movement known as chorea. As the disease progresses, it can lead to loss of control over speech and memory, dementia and death. The gene which causes Huntington's was discovered nearly 25 years ago, but there is still no cure and relatively limited treatment options.
This is especially true for people living in South America, where prevalence of the disease is almost 1,000 times higher than in the rest of the world and often combined with extreme poverty. Because the disease affects families generationally, they are often caught in a cycle of need.
The meeting with Pope Francis was called "HDdennomore" (pronounced "hidden no more") and put on in special solidarity with South America. Two families from Venezuela, two from Colombia, and one girl from Argentina – all affected by the disease in different ways – were brought to the Vatican by a humanitarian group to meet the Pope.