Mercy Friday: Pope Francis visits
patients with Alzheimer’s
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| Pope Francis makes a Mercy Friday visit to a centre for people with Alzheimer's |
Pope Francis pays a surprise visit to the Emanuele Village,
a structure near Rome dedicated to people with Alzheimer's disease.
By Vatican News
Pope Francis continued the “Mercy Friday” tradition this
week by visiting the Emanuele Village in the northern outskirts of Rome. He was
accompanied, as usual on these visits, by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President
of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.
The Emanuele Village
The Emanuele Village is a structure dedicated to the care of
people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It is organized like a real Village,
reproducing many small aspects of everyday life, assisting those who live with
this disease to maintain a bridge of communication with the outside world,
promoting socialization and inclusion. The Village is named after its founder,
who set out to create an innovative solution for residential care for people
affected by Alzheimer's disease.
The Pope’s visit
Upon his arrival, the Pope was greeted with amazement by the
residents and staff in the courtyard of the Village. He then spoke to those
present, exchanging words of comfort with each of them. With this visit, Pope
Francis wanted to draw attention to the conditions of exclusion and loneliness
that a disease like Alzheimer's risks generating in people who are often left
alone by society. The progressive increase in life expectancy also calls for
greater awareness and respect for the needs and dignity of those who live with
this disease.
The 23rd World Alzheimer's Day was celebrated on 21
September 2016. On that occasion, during the General Audience, Pope Francis
said: "I invite everyone to remember, with the solicitude of Mary and with
the tenderness of the Merciful Jesus, those affected by this disease, together
with their families. We also pray for the people who are close to the sick,
knowing how to grasp their needs, even the most imperceptible ones, because
they are seen with eyes full of love".
Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. It is an
incurable degenerative disease. It causes the destruction of neurons in certain
parts of the brain and a progressive deficit of cognitive functions. It affects
memory, language and behaviour. Early diagnosis prevents complications and
rapid deterioration. Dementia affects 47 million people globally and is the
seventh cause of death worldwide.
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