Pope Francis visits Children’s Hospital near Krakow
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis
visited on Friday the Pediatric Hospital of Prokocim near Krakow and in an
address to patients and staff said he wished that “We Christians could be as
close to the sick as Jesus was, in silence, with a caress, with prayer.”
Sadly, the Pope continued, “our society is tainted by the culture of waste” and
the victims of this “are the weakest and frailest and this is indeed
cruel." He thanked all those working at the hospital for the love and
compassion shown towards the young patients, describing this as “the sign of
true civility, human and Christian: to make those who are most disadvantaged
the centre of social and political concern.”
Please find below an English
translation of the Pope’s greeting to patients and staff at the Children’s
Hospital:
Dear brothers and sisters,
A special part of my visit to Kraków is this meeting with the little patients
of this hospital. I greet all of you and I thank the Prime Minister for
his kind words. I would like to draw near to all children who are sick,
to stand at their bedside, and embrace them. I would like to listen to
everyone here, even if for only a moment, and to be still before questions that
have no easy answers. And to pray.
The Gospel often shows us the Lord Jesus meeting the sick, embracing them and
seeking them out. Jesus is always attentive to them. He looks at
them in the same way that a mother looks at her sick child, and he is moved by
compassion for them.
How I would wish that we Christians could be as close to the sick as Jesus was,
in silence, with a caress, with prayer. Sadly, our society is tainted by
the culture of waste, which is the opposite of the culture of acceptance.
And the victims of the culture of waste are those who are weakest and most
frail; and this is indeed cruel. How beautiful it is instead to see that
in this hospital the smallest and most needy are welcomed and cared for.
Thank you for this sign of love that you offer us! This is the sign of
true civility, human and Christian: to make those who are most disadvantaged
the centre of social and political concern.
Sometimes families feel alone
in providing this care. What can be done? From this place, so full
of concrete signs of love, I would like to say: Let us multiply the works of
the culture of acceptance, works inspired by Christian love, love for Jesus
crucified, for the flesh of Christ. To serve with love and tenderness
persons who need our help makes all of us grow in humanity. It opens
before us the way to eternal life. Those who engage in works of mercy
have no fear of death.
I encourage all those who have made the Gospel call to “visit the sick” a
personal life decision: physicians, nurses, healthcare workers, chaplains and
volunteers. May the Lord help you to do your work well, here as in every
other hospital in the world. May he reward you by giving you inner peace and a
heart always capable of tenderness.
Thank you for this
encounter! I carry you with me in affection and prayer. And please,
do not forget to pray for me.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét