The touching moment Pope Francis halted his weekly audience to kiss and hold disfigured man with 'Elephant Man' disease

Pope Francis has won the admiration of his followers for his common touch and his accessibility.

And yesterday his compassion for a disfigured man prompted comparisons to the 13th Century's St Francis of Assisi.

The Pope kissed and prayed with the ailing man who was battling neurofibromatosis - the rare disease said to have affected the Elephant Man.

Act of kindness: Pope Francis (left) comforts a man covered in boils in Saint Peter's Square at the end of his General Audience in Vatican City

Touching moment: The pontiff kissed the worshiper, who suffers from a rare disease called neurofibromatosis, which is genetic and not contagious