Pope to women: Go ahead, breastfeed in church

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis encouraged women attending a ceremony in the Sistine Chapel yesterday to feel free to breastfeed their children in the church.

“The ceremony is a little long, someone’s crying because he’s hungry. That’s the way it is,” the pontiff said.

“You mothers, go ahead and breastfeed, without fear. Just like the Virgin Mary nursed Jesus,” he told worshippers attending an annual ceremony commemorating the baptism of Jesus.

The Argentine pope yesterday baptized 28 children – 15 boys and 13 girls.

He has previously voiced his support for breastfeeding, including in public.

The benefits of breastfeeding include providing optimal nutrition and an immune system boost for babies, while helping mothers bond with infants and speeding maternal weight loss after birth.

In many countries around the world, however, women are still widely discouraged from breastfeeding, especially when they are in public.

Francis also baptized 28 babies in the Sistine Chapel, joking when their cries became a crescendo that ``the concert has begun.’’

He kept his remarks short, noting the babies could be upset by a new place or perhaps were awakened early for the ceremony yesterday morning in the chapel decorated by Michelangelo and where popes are elected in closeddoor conclaves. Francis says perhaps Jesus’ first ``homily’’ was his baby cries.