[ speaking foreign language ] not all strangers, however, react like that. earlier this month, vin nishiol went with his aunt kataryna to st. peter s square where pope francis approached him and without a moment s hesitation kissed and hugged him. [ speaking foreign language ] when he embraced me, he recalls, i quivered. i felt a great warmth. and kataryna was struck by the pope s very down to earth manner. translator: i looked down at his shoes. they were like this, she says. i thought, yes, this is someone who really walks. and he was someone who, if he weren t wearing that clothing, you wouldn t even know he s the pope. since then, vinicio has returned to his daily routines. he continues to work and root
by the way, did you notice something? yes, 53-year-old vin nishiol suffers from a hereditary condition called neurofibromatosis type one. his body s almost covered from head to toe with growths, swellings and sores. his mother had the same condition as does his sister. he s had it since the age of 15. his appearance often terrifies strangers. vin nishiol recalls trying to take a seat on a bus but being told by the passenger next to him to sit somewhere else. translator: i wanted to answer back, but i controlled myself, he says. i felt my blood pressurize. i wanted to leave the bus but i had a doctor s appointment. there were lots of people on the bus, but no one said a word.