Watch Pope Francis talk about Education & Technology with Children with Disabilities and Special Needs

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On Thursday 2/5 at 4pm (CET), Pope Francis spoke to an international group children with disabilities and special needs in a live conversation from the Vatican. Participants were invited to participate through google+ hangout. The conversation was made possible through the technology on Scholas G+ page.

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Streamed live on Feb 5, 2015:

The Complete Transcript of the discussion with Pope Francis:
0:02 IN THE FIRST CHAT WE HAD POPE FRANCIS TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING BRIDGES.
0:10 TODAY WE WANT TO TALK WITH KIDS AROUND THE WORLD WHERE EVERY DAY THEY DO JUST THAT, THEY HELP
0:19 THROUGH TECHNOLOGY, HELP THEM LEARN TO STUDY, TO PLAY, TO SHARE.
0:26 SO LET’S START THIS EXPERIENCE BY CONTACTING SPAIN WHERE ISABEL IS WAITING.
0:35 HI, ISABEL, HOW ARE YOU?
0:36 WHAT WOULD YOU TELL POPE FRANCIS?
0:38>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ISABEL, I AM 13, AND I STUDY AT THE SCHOOL.
0:47 I USE TECHNOLOGY, AND SPECIAL IN CLASSES WITH A COMPUTER WHO HAS
0:51 A SCREEN READER, AND WE ALSO USE THIS INSTRUMENT WHICH IS A
0:56 BRAILLE READER WHERE EVERYTHING THAT APPEARS ON THE SCREEN
0:59 APPEARS HERE AS BRAILLE.
1:03 >> GOOD AFTERNOON, ISABEL, HOW ARE YOU?
1:08 WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL ME?
1:16 >> HOW I USE TECHNOLOGY. WHAT I DO.
1:22 I USE MY COMPUTER WITH A SCREEN READER.
1:25 I USE BRAILLE LINE, WHAT APPEARS ON THE SCREEN APPEARS HERE, AS YOU SEE IN BRAILLE.
1:33 >> WHEN DID YOU START USING THIS COMPUTER?
1:40 >> THE COMPUTER, I STARTED ABOUT 4th OR 5th GRADE IN PRIMARY SCHOOL.
1:47 >> SO YOU’VE BEEN DOING THIS ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS?
1:50 >> YES, MORE OR LESS.
1:53 >> AND YOU LIKE THIS?
1:55 >> YES. TO BE HONEST, YES, I LIKE IT.
1:59 IT’S ANOTHER HELP AND IT’S VERY PRACTICAL.
2:05 >> I WAS TOLD THAT YOU LIKE TO RUN, THAT YOU’RE AN ATHLETE.
2:09 >> OH, YES, I LOVE SPORTS.
2:11 >> TELL ME WHAT YOU DO.
2:13 >> WELL, I PRACTICE SPORTS TWICE A WEEK IN THE SCHOOL, AND THEN ONCE A WEEK ON MY OWN.
2:26 >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE ME A MESSAGE THAT I CAN TRANSMIT?
2:42 >> THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DON’T GIVE UP.
2:46 WITH EFFORT YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU DO AND REACH WHATEVER GOAL YOU WANT TO REACH.
2:51 >> WELL, I ASK YOU AND NOW YOU ANSWER ME.
2:56 BUT I ASK BY THE NAME OF 260 PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW LOOKING AT
3:03 YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL SOMETHING TO THESE PEOPLE WHO
3:06 ARE — WHO ALSO WANT TO BUILD BRIDGES AND TO ACHIEVE THAT KIDS
3:12 FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD CONNECT THEMSELVES TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS,
3:15 WHAT WOULD YOU TELL ALL OF THESE PEOPLE?
3:18 >> WELL, THE TRUTH IS A WONDERFUL INITIATIVE AND THAT I HOPE IT WORKS WELL.
3:32 >> WELL, YES. WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST.
3:42 >> THANK YOU.
3:44 >> KEEP ON RUNNING. KEEP ON WORKING WITH YOUR COMPUTER.
3:48 MAY GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. BYE.
3:54 [ APPLAUSE ]
3:55 >> DO YOU HEAR THE CLAPPING FOR YOU?
4:05 THANK YOU, ISABEL. ISABEL IS A FUTURE WRITER.
4:11 WE GO NEXT TO PEDRO WHO IS IN SAU PAULO.
4:21 HELLO, PEDRO.
4:24 >> HI, POPE. I AM VERY HAPPY TO MEET YOU.
4:28 I AM PEDRO GARCIA. I AM 12 YEARS OLD, AND I STUDY AT SCHOOL.
4:35 I HOPE THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY HELPS ME TO RIDE MY BIKE THROUGH
4:39 THE PROCESSES NOW BEING ASSEMBLED.
4:43 I LIKE VIDEO GAMES.
4:45 PLAY VIDEO GAMES ONLINE AND THAT IS WHAT I LIKE THE MOST.
4:48 I USE THE MOUSE WITH THE LEFT HAND AND THE KEYBOARD WITH MY RIGHT STUMP.
4:53 MY FAVORITE SPORT IS SOCCER.
4:55 >> DO YOU LIKE SOCCER?
5:00 WHAT KIND OF POSITION DO YOU PLAY IN FOOTBALL?
5:03 WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU IN THE TEAM?
5:05 >> I LIKE TO PLAY AT THE GOAL, THE GOAL KEEPER.
5:18 >> AND YOU LIKE TO STOP THE GOALS, BUT WHEN THEY GET ONE
5:21 THROUGH, HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN THEY GET A GOAL THROUGH.
5:25 >> I’M JUST VERY HAPPY TO BE WITH FRIENDS AND TO PRACTICE MY FAVORITE SPORT.
5:31 >> YOU ARE GIVING US A LESSON, YOU’RE TEACHING US.
5:38 WHAT MATTERS IS NOT TO WIN.
5:41 IMPORTANT THING IS TO PLAY AND TO BE WITH FRIENDS.
5:46 >> THANK YOU, PEDRO.
5:53 LET’S GO BACK TO SPAIN WHERE WE SEE ALICIA WHO WANTS TO TELL US SOMETHING.
5:59 WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL POPE FRANCIS?
6:01 TELL US.
6:02 >> WELL, THE FIRST THING, POPE FRANCIS, MY NAME IS ALICIA, I’M 16.
6:10 I STUDY AT THE GIL GAYARRE FOUNDATION.
6:15 I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE CAMERA THAT I DO WITH MY FILM GROUP.
6:20 WE DO A LOT OF THINGS.
6:22TAKE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TRIPOD THAT WE USE.
6:37I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU I LIKE TO USE THE CLIPBOARD, LIVE SOUND
6:41AND ESPECIALLY WORK AS A TEAM.
6:43AND I LIKE TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THE RECORDING WE DO,
6:52THAT’S A LOT OF FUN, I’M SERIOUS.
6:54 >> AND DO YOU LIKE IT A LOT.
6:55 >> YES, I LIKE IT A LOT. SOMETIMES IT’S TIRING.
6:59 >> AND WHEN YOU’RE TIRED, WHAT DO YOU DO?
7:01 >> WELL, I CALM MYSELF DOWN, AND I THINK OF SOMETHING AND I ACT ON IT.
7:14 >> I LIKE THAT, THAT’S GOOD ADVICE.
7:16 BEFORE YOU ACT, THINK. VERY GOOD ADVICE.
7:20 THANK YOU.
7:20 THANK YOU AGAIN. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
7:23 >> I’M SORRY, POPE FRANCIS, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION, PLEASE.
7:27 DO YOU LIKE TO TAKE PICTURES AND THEN UPLOAD THEM, DOWNLOAD THEM ON THE COMPUTER?
7:34 >> DO YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH?
7:36 I AM OLD FASHIONED WHEN IT COMES TO COMPUTERS.
7:41 I’M A DINOSAUR.
7:43 I DON’T KNOW HOW TO WORK A COMPUTER.
7:47 WHAT A PITY, HUH? WHAT A SHAME.
7:52 THANK YOU ALICIA. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.
7:56 THANK YOU AGAIN.
7:57 LET’S GO NOW — THEY’RE CLAPPING FOR YOU.
8:06 THAT’S FOR YOU.
8:07 AND NOW WE GO TO ELVIRA.
8:10 HI, ELVIRA, POPE FRANCIS IS HERE.
8:13 WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL HIM?
8:15 >> HELLO, POPE FRANCIS. I’M 12 YEARS OLD, I’M ELVIRA.
8:22 >> TELL ME SOMETHING.
8:23 >> I STUDY IN THE GIL GAYARRE
8:32 FOUNDATION, I ALSO ENJOY MYSELF
8:34 MAKING VIDEOS JUST LIKE ALICIA.
8:39 >> AND ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT?
8:40 >> YES, I LIKE TO SING. I LOVE IT.
8:49 >> OH, YOU LIKE TO SING?
8:52 YES, THAT’S VERY NICE, VERY NICE.
8:55 I HAVE TO SAY GOOD-BYE NOW.
9:04 WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG? VERY, VERY NICE.
9:13 WELL, I HOPE YOU CONTINUE SINGING WELL.
9:16 OKAY. ELVIRA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU WERE WONDERFUL.
9:22 AND YOU WERE ABLE TO TELL WHAT YOUR FAVORITE SONG IS, AND NOW WAITING FOR US.
9:28 >> IN NEBRASKA, HOW ARE YOU
9:37 DOING TODAY, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO
9:40 SHARE WITH POPE FRANCIS.
9:43 >> I’M TAYNOR FRANCIS.
9:51 I’M A JUNIOR AT KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL.
9:59 I HAVE OVERCOME SEVERAL OBSTACLES IN MY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL CAREER.
10:04 ONE OF MY MAIN STRUGGLES INVOLVES BEING ABLE TO SHARE MY
10:07 THOUGHTS IN A WAY SO THAT I CAN KEEP UP AND NOT FALL BEHIND WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM.
10:16 I HAVE A LACK OF FINE MOTOR SKILLS THAT AFFECTS THE SPEED THAT I CAN WRITE OR TYPE.
10:21 THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY HAS HELPED ME OVERCOME THE PROBLEM OF
10:24 GETTING MY THOUGHTS OUT FAST ENOUGH AND KEEPING UP WITH CLASSES.
10:29 I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU FACE SOMETHING DIFFICULT?
10:35 >> FIRST OF ALL, NOT GET UPSET. THERE’S NO NEED TO GET UPSET.
10:48 REMAIN CALM. AFTERWARDS, FIND A WAY TO
10:57 OVERCOME IT, OF GETTING OVER IT.
11:00 AND IF I CAN’T OVERCOME IT, THEN I HAVE TO RESIST IT.
11:07 UNTIL THE POSSIBILITY COMES UP THAT I CAN OVERCOME IT.
11:16 THERE’S NO NEED TO BE AFRAID WITH DIFFICULTIES.
11:23 DON’T BE AFRAID EVER.
11:25 WE ARE CAPABLE OF OVERCOMING EVERYTHING.
11:29 ALL WE NEED IS TIME TO UNDERSTAND THEM, INTELLIGENCE TO
11:35 FIND A WAY AND COURAGE TO CONTINUE FORWARD, BUT NEVER BE AFRAID.
11:43 >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, POPE FRANCIS.
11:48 THANK YOU, ISAIAH AND TAYNOR, YOU DID A GREAT JOB.
11:54 NOW WE’RE GOING TO GO TO INDIA WHERE MANOJ IS WAITING FOR US.
12:03 POPE FRANCIS WANTS TO SHARE WITH YOU AN EXPERIENCE.
12:06 HOW ARE YOU DOING?
12:08 >> GOOD EVENING. HONORED AND EXCITED TO MEET YOU.
12:24 MY NAME IS MANOJ KUMAR AND I AM A HEARING IMPAIRED STUDENT
12:31 STUDYING IN 6th GRADE AT ASHRAY AKRUTI HIGH SCHOOL,
12:39 HYDERABAD, INDIA.
12:41 I AM 13 YEARS OLD.
12:43 AT SCHOOL THEY TEACH US KARATE, YOGA, AND COMPUTERS.
12:48 I NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS COMPUTERS UNTIL THREE YEARS AGO.
12:58 I LIKE IT VERY MUCH.
13:04 NOW WHEN I DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING WITH MY SUBJECT, I GO
13:11 TO THE INTERNET AND SEARCH PICTURES.
13:14 THEN I KNOW.
13:16 IT IS LIKE HAVING ANOTHER TEACHER.
13:22 I’M A BIG FAN OF BRUCE LEE. I SAW HIS VIDEOS ON YouTube.
13:32 GOOD WAY TO LEARN!
13:36 I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
13:41 HOW DO YOU THINK SCHOLAS CAN HELP US?
13:45 >> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU SAID.
13:55 NOW TO YOUR QUESTION.
14:02 HOW DO I BELIEVE SCHOLAS CAN HELP YOU?
14:05 BUILDING BRIDGES, COMMUNICATING WITH YOU, WITH YOU ALL, BECAUSE
14:12 WHEN YOU ALL COMMUNICATE, THE BEST OF WHAT YOU HAVE INSIDE,
14:20 AND YOU RECEIVE THE BEST FROM OTHERS AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
14:23 WHEN WE DON’T COMMUNICATE, WE STAY ALONE WITH OUR LIMITATIONS
14:29 AND THAT IS BAD FOR US.
14:33 WHEN WE COMMUNICATE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS
14:36 COMMUNICATION, GIVE AND RECEIVE, AND THAT DOES US WELL AND WE’RE NEVER ALONE.
14:44 SCHOLAS CAN HELP YOU WITH THIS IN COMMUNICATION.
14:48 >> THANK YOU, MANOJ. YOU DID A GREAT JOB.
14:5 1 THANK YOU SO MUCH.
14:53 AND NOW WE’RE GOING TO RECEIVE BAUTI IN SPAIN.
14:59 HELLO, BAUTI, HOW ARE YOU?
15:02 >> I’M OKAY.
15:03 HELLO, FRANCISCO. I’M BAUTISTA, THEY CALL MY BAUTI.
15:10 I’M 14, I AM FROM BUENOS ARES.
15:14 I GO TO SCHOOL IN MADRID,
15:16 I’M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW I USE MY COMPUTER AND TABLET.
15:19 IN MY COMPUTER I STUDY MATH AND LINGUISTICS.
15:23 WE DO NATURAL SCIENCE VIDEOS.
15:25 I LIKE TO USE THE TABLET FOR PHOTOS AND COLLAGES, LATER I CAN
15:30 SHOW MY FRIENDS WHAT I’VE DONE.
15:32 I LIKE A LOT OF GAMES THAT INVOLVE CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES
15:38 AND HIGHWAYS, AND THAT WAY I HAVE A LOT OF FUN.
15:42 I ALSO DRAW.
15:46 I AM VERY HAPPY AND EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU TODAY.
15:49 AND HERE IS MY HEART.
15:53 I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT YOU IN ROME ONE DAY.
15:57 THANK YOU.
16:00 >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
16:04 >> YOU’RE WELCOME.
16:06 >> SO YOU LIKE THE TABLET? IS IT DIFFICULT?
16:12 DO YOU HAVE A TABLET?
16:14 >> NO, I DON’T HAVE ONE.
16:17 >> CAN YOU MANAGE IT WELL?
16:24 >> YES.
16:25 >> GOOD. I CONGRATULATE YOU.
16:30 THANK YOU.
16:32 [ APPLAUSE ]
16:33 BAUTI, THANK YOU A LOT. BEAUTIFUL IT WAS.
16:44 I CONGRATULATE YOU.
16:46 AND NOW YOU, POPE FRANCIS, CAN YOU GIVE US A MESSAGE FOR THE KIDS?
16:52>> ALL OF YOU — ALL OF YOU HAVE A BOX, LIKE A TREASURE CHEST
17:08 WITH A TREASURE INSIDE.
17:14 AND THE WORD FOR YOU IS TO OPEN UP THE CHEST, TAKE OUT THE
17:18 TREASURE, MAKE IT GROW AND GIVE IT TO OTHERS AND RECEIVE FROM
17:24 OTHERS THE TREASURES THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE.
17:27 EACH ONE OF US HAS A TREASURE INSIDE.
17:31 IF WE KEEP IT INSIDE, IT JUST STAYS THERE INSIDE.
17:37 WE SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, THE TREASURE MULTIPLIES ITSELF, FOR
17:47 THE TREASURES THAT COME FROM OTHERS.
17:50 WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS DON’T HIDE THE TREASURE THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE.
17:58 SOMETIMES YOU FIND IT RIGHT AWAY.
18:01 SOMETIMES YOU HAVE LIKE A GAME AND FIND THE TREASURE.
18:06 SOMETIMES IT’S NOT EASILY FOUND, BUT ONCE IT’S FOUND, SHARE IT.
18:11 BECAUSE BY SHARING, YOU RECEIVE FROM OTHERS AND IT MULTIPLIES.
18:15 THAT’S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY TODAY, KIDS.
18:21 WHAT YOU DO FROM THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE HELPS ALL OF US.
18:30 HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THAT LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL TREASURE.
18:36 IT ONLY MAKES SENSE IF WE GIVE IT.
18:39 THANK YOU AGAIN.
18:41 [ APPLAUSE ]
18:49 THANK YOU, POPE FRANCIS, FOR YOUR WORDS.
18:52 THANK YOU TO ALL THE KIDS, ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS WHO SHARED
18:59 TODAY, WHO SHARED A LITTLE PIECE OF THEIR LIVES TO THEM AND LET
19:02 US OPEN UP OUR TREASURE CHEST AND HELP ADULTS TOO.
19:06 THANKS TO ALL WHO ARE SEEING US, WHO ARE SEEING VIDEO CHAT.
19:11 THANK YOU, ISABEL, THANK YOU, BAUTI.
19:14 THANK YOU, ELVIRA, THANK YOU ALL OF YOU.
19:16 THANK YOU.
19:20 NOW WE’RE GOING TO SAY HELLO LIKE THIS, SHAKE YOUR HANDS FOR PEACE.
19:25 YOUR HANDS FOR PEACE.
19:27 [APPLAUSE]
19:28 NEXT, POPE FRANCIS TOGETHER WITH THE WORLD DIRECTORS OF
19:44 SCHOLARS WILL COMMUNICATE WITH MOZAMBIQUE WHERE THERE IS AN
20:01 INSTITUTION FOR SCHOLARS, THE CONNECTION NOW WITH MOZAMBIQUE
20:10 WITH THE SCHOLAS OFFICIALS.