February 11, 2022 | 30th World Day of the Sick | To touch the suffering flesh of Christ[i]
In his message for the World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis includes these powerful words for those who care for the sick:
Care that Transcends Profession and Becomes a Mission
Jesus’ invitation to be merciful like the Father has particular significance for healthcare workers. I think of all those physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, the support staff and the caretakers of the sick, as well as the numerous volunteers who donate their precious time to assist those who suffer. Dear healthcare workers, your service alongside the sick, carried out with love and competence, transcends the bounds of your profession and becomes a mission.
Signs of the Merciful Hands of the Father
Your hands, which touch the suffering flesh of Christ, can be a sign of the merciful hands of the Father. Be mindful of the great dignity of your profession, as well as the responsibility that it entails.
“Your hands, which touch the suffering flesh of Christ, can be a sign of the merciful hands of the Father.”
Gratitude for Progress in Medical Science
Let us thank the Lord for the progress that medical science has made, especially in recent times; new technologies have made it possible to prepare therapies that are of great benefit to the sick; research continues to make a valuable contribution to eliminating old and new pathologies; rehabilitation medicine has greatly expanded its expertise and skills. None of this, however, must make us forget the uniqueness of each patient, his or her dignity and frailties.
Caring even when Curing is not Possible
Patients are always more important than their diseases, and for this reason, no therapeutic approach can prescind from listening to the patient, his or her history, anxieties and fears. Even when healing is not possible, care can always be given. It is always possible to console, it is always possible to make people sense a closeness that is more interested in the person than in his or her pathology. For this reason, I would hope that the training provided to health workers might enable them to develop a capacity for listening and relating to others.[ii]
[i] MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE THIRTIETH WORLD DAY OF THE SICK, p 3 To touch the suffering flesh of Christ. 30th World Day of the Sick 2022 | Francis. (2021, December 10). Retrieved February 9, 2022, from https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/sick/documents/20211210_30-giornata-malato.html
[ii] MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE THIRTIETH WORLD DAY OF THE SICK. 30th World Day of the Sick 2022 | Francis. (2021, December 10). Retrieved February 9, 2022, from https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/sick/documents/20211210_30-giornata-malato.html
Posted for February 11, 2022 | 30th World Day of the Sick
