5/1/25 - Pope Francis, and Montreal
Happy May Day! It's hard to believe we are already close to halfway through 2025. Here are your three disability-related links for the day ...
The Chair of Saint Peter
Peter Torres Fremlin, Disability Debrief - April 30, 2025
"Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic Church, passed away on 21st April, aged 88. For the last few years of his life he was the most prominent wheelchair user in the world."
In the first article of his latest newsletter, Peter Torres Fremlin considers the symbolism, impact, and reactions of the late Pope Francis using a wheelchair for the last few years of his life. Like many examples of prominent people who start using mobility aids, the Pope sent mixed messages, some intentional, some probably inadvertent. But meaningful messaging about disability is always complicated, with both positive and negative aspects. More on that in the next piece ...
Humble Francis
Timothy Snyder, Thinking About ... - April 21, 2025
Suggested by: paid subscriber Tina Argetsinger
"Francis was led down the aisle, resplendent in white, very erect, walking slowly and greeting people along the way. Just before he reached the sanctuary, he halted suddenly and turned to his right, noticing that pew. Then, as the rest of us waited, he walked to its far end, and bent himself to speak. He greeted each person in turn, touching them. As the people with whom he was conversing could not rise, he had to lower himself. So, over and over, Francis knelt down to look someone in the eye and to hold both of their hands in his. This took about fifteen minutes. It was a moment to think about others, and in that sense, for me, a liberation, from my own anxiety and selfishness."
Subscriber Tina Argetsinger emailed this blog post to me, curious about how to process the "inspirational" aspects of this story of the late Pope Francis greeting disabled people so personally at the start of a ceremony. What should we make of this? Should we view it as evidence that Francis had a more inclusive and accepting view of disabled people than Christian churches have sometimes had? Were these acts of simple kindness, or, more deliberate messages of disability inclusion and respect? What did the disabled people he greeted so personally really feel and think in the moment? Why don't we know? Why do we so rarely hear from disabled people treated kindly by famous people, when we hear all about the famous people's great generosity? Is this "inspiration porn," the objectifying of disabled people through conspicuous sentimentality? Maybe it isn't. Maybe, in this case, it is a step or two better than Jerry Lewis weeping over a child in a wheelchair on one of those old telethons? "Inspiration porn" is authentic – not some kind of grumpy political construct. It's a real feeling of discomfort many of us get when we are treated with a certain kind of kindness. It can be hard to define, but we tend to know it, or feel it, when it happens. But when certain people in specific situations do it, I think we as disabled people may process it more generously. I may change my mind later on, with more information. But my sense right now is that while what Pope Francis did, and often did with disabled people is "inspiration porn," but I am willing to give him a pass. If anyone can make this kind of thing actually work, it would be him.
A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE GUIDE TO MONTREAL, CANADA
Cory Lee, Curb Free with Cory Lee
"... as a wheelchair user I was pleasantly surprised with the accessibility of the city and the special accommodations that I encountered. If a visit to Quebec’s bustling centerpiece interests you as well, I’m sharing some of the city’s best accessible sights as well as some insider tips from my own adventure ..."
Montreal is my favorite city – I suppose at least partly because it's only an hour's drive North from where I live. But I haven't visited there since before COVID. And right now it might feel a little uncomfortable being an American visiting Canada, even in Quebec. One thing is certain though. Given the current state of my disability, the next time I visit Montreal, I'll be using some kind of mobility aid, probably a mobility scooter. So, learning more about accessibility in Montreal feels more relevant to me than it might have when I used to walk down St. Catherine Street.
Remember to give a thumbs up, thumbs down, or comment on this newsletter down below. And please do share it with any others who you think might be interested.
Action Alerts
Opportunities to take action on disability issues ...
tpinedo
Disability Thinking Weekday is a Monday-Friday newsletter with links and commentary on disability-related articles and other content. Please like, share, comment, and subscribe — for free, or with a paid subscription. A free subscription brings a newsletter to your email each weekday, and gives you access to Comments. Benefits of paid subscription include:
- A monthly recap with links to all of the previous month's shared articles, organized by topic.
- Listing as a supporter, and a link to your website if you have one.
- You can recommend one disability-related article for me to share per month in a weekday post.
To to subscribe, or check and change the status of your subscription, click this button:
I am so grateful for your help and engagement, in whichever forms you choose!