Pope Francis tells women to ‘breastfeed like the Virgin Mary nursed Jesus’ in CHURCH
POPE FRANCIS told women to feel free to breastfeed in church during an annual baptism ceremony in the Sistine Chapel.
Breastfeeding: Pope Francis tells women to ‘breastfeed like the Virgin Mary'
Pope Francis spoke out about breastfeeding this weekend, during an annual baptism ceremony in the Sistine Chapel.
During a ceremony in which he baptised 15 boys and 13 girls, the pontiff made encouraging remarks to new mothers as a baby cried during his sermon.
He said: “The ceremony is a little long, someone’s crying because he’s hungry. That’s the way it is.
“You mothers, go ahead and breastfeed, without fear. Just like the Virgin Mary nursed Jesus.”
Last year, during a similar service, Pope Francis baptised 33 infants in the Sistine Chapel and told the mothers to feel free to breastfeed them if they cried or were hungry.
Breastfeeding: The pope encouraged breastfeeding in church during an annual baptism ceremony
Departing from his prepared speech he said: “You mothers give your children milk and even now, if they cry because they are hungry, breastfeed them, don’t worry.”
Even before he read the homily, at least one mother was seen breastfeeding.
There are many benefits which come with breastfeeding, including optimal nutrition and an immune system boost for babies.
But in many countries around the world, women are still widely discouraged from breastfeeding in public.
YouTuber defies critics by breastfeeding three-year old
Go ahead and breastfeed, without fear...just like the Virgin Mary nursed Jesus
Catholic mothers living in developed nations are less likely to breastfeed, a study suggested.
Experts looked at data from 135 countries on breastfeeding rates and the proportions of Catholics and Protestants.
They also examined regional areas of the UK, France, Ireland, Canada and the USA.
After taking account of factors including population density and gross domestic product, the researchers found a link between religious affiliation and breastfeeding rates in Western countries.
Breastfeeding: Catholics believe mothering through breastfeeding is part of God's beautiful design
The finding held true even when the researchers looked at breastfeeding initiation rates across different parts of the same country - the higher the proportion of Catholics in regions of France, Ireland, the UK and Canada, the lower breastfeeding rates in those regions.
The authors of the study, which has been published in the journal BMJ Global Health, called for further research to examine their findings, adding: “Studies are also necessary to identify the sociocultural values and beliefs that mediate the relationships between a historically Catholic family or societal background and breast feeding.”
If confirmed, their finding could help health officials target their breastfeeding promotional materials according to “sociocultural background”, they added.
They wrote: “Our results suggest that women living in a country or region where Catholicism has historically dominated are less likely to initiate breastfeeding, and that breastfeeding promotion policies should be adapted to better fit populations' cultural and religious norms."