蜜桃交友

By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis began his address to the association against Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma by reminding participants that in today鈥檚 liturgy, the Church invites us to read about the great gifts God has given humans. In quoting Sirch, the Pope says that after having created them 鈥淗e filled them with knowledge and understanding and showed them the difference between good and evil鈥�, and 鈥淗e made knowledge available to them and gave them the Law as a source of life鈥�.

Science

[Scientific] Knowledge, continued the Pope, 鈥渋s a powerful tool for better understanding both the nature that surrounds us as well as for understanding human health.鈥� The Church encourages all research and efforts that goes towards curing suffering people鈥�, and for this reason, he said, 鈥淚 am happy to express my appreciation for all that your Association has done over the past decades.鈥�

The Pope went on the acknowledge that the Association鈥檚 main lines of action 鈥渁re in fact very effective鈥� with regards to scientific research, healthcare and the training of staff. In these three spheres, says the Pope, 鈥測ou fulfill the roles that humans are called to鈥�.

Lines of action

With scientific research, said the Pope, 鈥測ou investigate the biological dimension of man, in order to relieve him from the disease鈥� with increasingly effective therapies鈥�. With healthcare, he continued, 鈥測ou are close to the suffering, to accompany them in the time of difficulty, so that no one ever feels alone...鈥� In addition, with the training of staff, he concludes, 鈥測ou qualify your actions to promote a global care of the sick person...鈥�

Pope Francis went on to compare the volunteers, who 鈥渁ccompany鈥� the members of the Association, to Mary, who brought 鈥渕uch consolation鈥� to Jesus on the Cross. This attitude, he said, is necessary when dealing with people suffering from such complicated illnesses.

You are not alone

The Pope went on to address those who are living through their illness in isolation, who may feel 鈥渄etached from the world, from relationships, and from daily life鈥�. He tells them that they are not alone; 鈥淭he Lord, who has had the difficult experience of pain on the Cross鈥�, is there beside them, he said.

Pope Francis referred to all those who share the Church鈥檚 closeness to those suffering from these illnesses: the chaplains, deacons, extraordinary ministers of communion, and the entire community of the faithful who 鈥渁ssist and console鈥� the ill. He says they render Jesus鈥� desire concrete, because we are all one, 鈥渟tarting with the most weak and vulnerable鈥�.

Curing the person

鈥淭he cure is not of the disease, of an organ or of cells, but of the person鈥�, he continued. One鈥檚 spirituality is not exhausted in bodily concerns 鈥渂ut the fact that the spirit transcends the body means that it is included in a greater vitality and dignity, which is not that of biology, but that of the person and the spirit鈥�.

Finally, the Pope assured the members of the Association present, that their 鈥減raiseworthy commitment can make each person more and more aware of the culture of giving and caring for the other鈥�. This, he concluded, is essential for the life and wellbeing of every human community.