A man with a deformed face who made headlines in 2013 after being hugged by Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 58, Vatican News reported.

Vinicio Riva, who suffered from neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic disorder that causes skin lesions, died in a hospital in Vicenza, Italy on January 10.

Riva was embraced and blessed by Francis before a general audience in St. Peter's Square, shortly after the start of his pontificate in 2013.

Regarded as one of the most emotional and impactful moments of Francis' pontificate, the Pope's compassionate gesture towards Riva significantly influenced the latter's life.

In media interviews, he recounted the moment when the pontiff kissed his hand, caressed his head and lesions, and then embraced him tightly.

Riva said, "My head was against his chest and his arms welcomed me. He hugged me tight, tight. I tried to speak, say anything, but I couldn’t: The emotion was very strong. It was just over a minute, but it seemed like an eternity to me."

He added: "Then I turned to see my aunt and told her: Here I leave the sorrows, the sorrows are left right here."

Riva's illness, neurofibromatosis, causes great pain and can result in impaired vision, learning impairment, and even cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Treatment of the condition is very complicated.