A conference for deaf-mutes in the Vatican

Meet Father Cyrill Axelrod. He is one of only 13 deaf-mute priests in the world and he came to Rome for a conference at the Vatican on the deaf-mute community around the word.

Hes travelled all over the world to educate other deaf-mutes at conferences like this one. His commitment to helping others speaks volumes about his dedication in spite of his handicap. Father Axelrod is also blind.

Rev. Cyrill Axelrod
Deaf-mute priest
Its very important for me to be here because firstly, its an opportunity to communicate with Church leaders and to tell them about deaf and have them know about our culture. The second reason is to encourage everybody, the deaf and hard of hearing priests—because of their difficulties in their lives, to encourage them and give them hope and patience so they can continue their pastoral work to the deaf.

The three day conference focused on the care of deaf-mutes in the Church, that included pastoral care and attention to deaf-mute faithful.

Rev. David Lovitt Malloy
Deaf-mute Priest
We thought it was important to build the relationship between the Church and the deaf.

David Lovitt Malloy is another one of the 13 deaf-mute priests in the world that uses sign language to celebrate Mass.

Rev. David Lovitt Malloy
Deaf-mute Priest
We use an interpreter. When I teach deaf people about communion, Mass, baptism, weddings, I teach them and we use an interpreter or I use sign language. Its very important that we do this.

Mons. Zygmunt Zimowski
President, Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care
Before the Church did not allow the ordination of deaf-mutes. Now, its more open. There many organizations within the Church, like congregations, that are dedicated to our deaf-mute brothers and sisters.

Families and individuals from 67 countries attended the meeting and had a chance to meet the pope in an audience.

There are some 1,300,000 members of the Catholic church worldwide that are deaf. The goal of this conference is to give a voice to this important minority and to foster a comfortable niche for them in the Church. RSS

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[bdvidanova]

Sou guia-intérprete e fico muito feliz em ver um padre surdocego. Isso aumenta

nossa fé e nossa vontade de ajudar e confiar mais e mais na igreja. Deus seja Louvado!!

Beijos a todos!

[deafornot1]

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[deafornot2]

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[derek25acorah]

@dianaberry9393 most people are born Deaf and they dont know they have a vioce so their voice soes undoveleaped untill someone teaches them to use it. other Deaf people loose their hearing over time due to genetics in the family or it sttays dormit for years and come it could coe up at any time of the yrar in the life!!

[dianaberry9393]

@deafdaveden Deaf people don't like to be referred to as "hearing impaired" because it implies that there is something wrong with them. In ASL, we say deaf, hearing or hard of hearing. 

[dianaberry9393]

Deaf mute! What the heck is that supposed to mean!? People who are deaf can use their voices! It is not like they are incapable of communication! They can speak, but they just can't hear what they are saying, so they use sign language.

[aussieartist]

I agree I find the word "deaf-mute" is offensive because most Deaf people in this world can talk and some don't want to talk. It doesn't mean that we Deaf are the mute ones. Political corrections are sometimes disrespect.

[deafdaveden]

Great video only that the terminology is rather dated. deaf mute! should be only "Deaf" and/or Hard of hearing and Hearing Impaired people.

[mattandpatti222]

Pagan Vatican/Jesuit church of Lucifer. Come out of her my people! Rev 19. Poor lost souls in the Mystery Babylon church called Roman Catholic Church. Look into ex-Jesuit who was murdered for speaking the truth on this apostate church.

[Hartmut1940]

No kidding, the word "deaf-mute" was used at the conference! Unbelievable.

The use of the word "mute" is clearly audistic. It presumes that there is no other way of communication but speech. In our sign language, we don't have a single sign for those who cannot sign. What for to have such a sign, knowing that there are different ways to communicate, not just by speech.

Don't they simply know the simple unitary word "deaf"?!

Hartmut