Pope Francis kisses a child during a special audience with participants of the 'World Congress of Accountants', in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alessandra Tarantino, AP
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VATICAN CITY Michele and Vinny Arbogast of New York were devastated when their son Kyle was diagnosed with autism as he struggled to speak as a toddler nearly a decade ago.
Autism turns your world upside down, Michele Arbogast said. It affects every member of the family.
Kyle is now 10 and one of an estimated 70 million people affected by the disorder around the world.
This week, he traveled to Rome with his twin sister, Jacqueline, and the rest of his family for the first-ever global gathering on autism hosted by the Vatican.
There was no question in my mind, we had to come, said Michele Arbogast, who gave up her job as a TV producer to help take care of her son. In my darkest moments it was my faith that I turned to.
More than 650 experts from 57 countries have come together for a three-day conference organized by the Vatican body responsible for pastoral health care to discuss diagnosis, treatment, research and support for families.
Pope Francis, who is known for his compassion and often pictured at his weekly audience in St Peters Square embracing the disabled, is due to address the final session on Saturday. Michele Arbogast hopes the pope can help raise autism awareness among the worlds 1.2 billion Catholics, especially in poorer nations.
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Pope Francis tackles autism as families seek hope and support