蜜桃交友

By Lisa Zengarini

As the Church journeys along the synodal path, Pope Francis is inviting the faithful to reflect on the fact that 鈥渋t is especially through the experience of vulnerability and illness that we can learn to walk together according to the style of God, which is closeness, compassion, and tenderness鈥�. He makes the call in his Message for the 31st World Day of the Sick, which was released on Tuesday.

The Catholic Church marks the annual day on 11 February, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  The theme of this year鈥檚 observance is 鈥淭ake care of him: Compassion as a synodal exercise of healing鈥�, drawn from the Gospel of Luke on the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Illness experienced in isolation is inhumane

In his message, Pope Francis highlights compassion and care for the sick 鈥渁s a synodal exercise of healing鈥�, to which God calls us, noting that if illness is part of our human condition, when 鈥渆xperienced in isolation and abandonment, unaccompanied by care and compassion, it can become inhumane鈥�.

The message of fraternity of the Good Samaritan

The 鈥渃ondition of loneliness and abandonment鈥� of the man beaten and robbed by bandits in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, is the same experienced today by 鈥渢oo many of our brothers and sisters鈥� who 鈥渁re left at a time when they most need help鈥�, the Pope writes. Indeed, he says, 鈥淭here is a profound link between this parable of Jesus and the many ways in which fraternity is denied in today鈥檚 world鈥�, in which it is no longer easy 鈥渢o distinguish the assaults on human life and dignity that arise from natural causes from those caused by injustice and violence鈥�.

The Good Samaritan tells us a different story:  that of a man, 鈥渁 scorned foreigner鈥�, who 鈥渋s moved with compassion and takes care of that stranger on the road, treating him as a brother.  In doing so, without even thinking about it -  says the Pope -  he makes a difference, he makes the world more fraternal鈥�.

We are all fragile and vulnerable

In a world dominated by 鈥渢he pervasive culture of efficiency鈥� that pushes us to sweep our vulnerability under the carpet, 鈥渓eaving no room for our human frailty鈥�, the Church is therefore called to 鈥渕easure herself against the Gospel example of the Good Samaritan, in order that she may become a true 鈥榝ield hospital鈥�, for her mission is manifested in acts of care, particularly in the historical circumstances of our time鈥�.

Moving forward together

While the World Day of the Sick calls for prayer and closeness towards those who suffer - continues the message - it 鈥渁lso aims to raise the awareness of God鈥檚 people, healthcare institutions and civil society with regard to a new way of moving forward together鈥�.   鈥淚ndeed 鈥� the Pope writes -  the conclusion of the Parable of the Good Samaritan suggests how the exercise of fraternity, which began as a face-to-face encounter, can be expanded into organized care鈥�.

The right to basic and decent healthcare

In this regard, Pope Francis once again draws attention to the urgent need for 鈥渟trategies and resources in order to guarantee each person鈥檚 fundamental right to basic and decent healthcare鈥�, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed 鈥渢he structural limits of existing public welfare systems鈥�, while 鈥渟training the great networks of expertise and solidarity鈥� .

Leaving no one behind

Bringing his message to a close, Pope Francis again reiterates that the sick 鈥漚re at the centre of God鈥檚 people, and the Church advances together with them as a sign of a humanity in which everyone is precious and no one should be discarded or left behind鈥�.

The Pope wrapped up the message by entrusting all the sick, those who care for them in their families, researchers and volunteers, and those 鈥渨ho are committed to weaving personal, ecclesial, and civic bonds of fraternity鈥� to the intercession of Mary, Health of the infirm.