real life

The breastfeeding supporter we never expected

Joining the millions of women defending their right to feed their child whenever and wherever they need to, Pope Francis has now weighed into the debate.

He fully supports women breastfeeding in public. He told the following story to Italian newspaper La Stampa:

“There are so many children that cry because they are hungry. At the Wednesday General Audience the other day there was a young mother behind one of the barriers with a baby that was just a few months old. The child was crying its eyes out as I came past. The mother was caressing it.”

“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! That woman had milk to give to her child; we have enough food in the world to feed everyone.”

The most important point the Pope made was that breastfeeding is about food, not about nudity. It’s the same as eating a sandwich in public except it’s way more important because breast milk is often the only source of nourishment to baby.

My husband hated that I did. He didn't want anyone seeing my boobs but I did my best to make sure I didn't make a show of it. I just fed my child.

If somebody had a problem with it, it was their problem, not mine and not my baby's.

The Pope's decision to speak out in favour of public nursing has done nothing to silence the voices opposed to it. In the publication Religion News Services, writer David Gibson said, "“So Francis is backing breast-feeding in public! That is sure to warm [the hearts] of pro-nursing feminists and maybe raise a few eyebrows among the traditional set."

How annoying.

Breastfeeding in public has NOTHING to do with feminism. It's not about boobs. Its about FEEDING YOUR CHILD.

He then went on to say that public breastfeeding is supported in religious texts and that opposition to it is a modern-day issues. The discussion resulting from his article included a woman by the name of Audrey who was so happy at the Pope's decision to publicly support nursing.

A woman by the name of Audrey commented on the article, saying, "As a breast-feeding mother and a non-Catholic married into a Catholic family this article put a smile on my face … maybe I will go to Mass after all."

Pope Francis is a popular pope had was named Time magazine's Person of the Year for his efforts to create a more inclusive Catholic Church. It's so great that he's come out in support of nursing mothers. Now, about same-sex marriage and female priests...

Do you think the Pope's decision to speak out in favour of breastfeeding will help change attitudes towards it?