Don't abandon the sick - Pope
Pope John Paul urged Roman Catholics today not to abandon the suffering and the elderly and thanked those who “with simplicity” dedicated their lives to the service of the sick.
“Those who suffer must never be left alone,” the Pope said at his weekly general audience.
The 83-year-old pontiff has Parkinson’s disease and in public sits in a velvet armchair on a rolling platform wheeled around by aides.
“My thoughts go to those who bear the weight of suffering in the body and the soul. To each of them I renew my affection and spiritual nearness,” the Pope said.
The Church was today observing a day dedicated to the sick, with a special celebration in Lourdes, a pilgrimage site for the sick in southern France.
The Pope encouraged doctors, nurses, scientists and researchers in their efforts to assist the sick and combat illness. “To care for those who suffer is a great act of love,” John Paul said.
Throughout his 25-year pontificate, the Pope has made a point of meeting with the sick, both in his weekly audiences, his visits to parishes in Rome, and his worldwide travels.
“Looking at pain and illness from a purely human aspect, they may seem an absurd reality but seen in the light of the Gospel one can grasp their deep saving meaning,” said the Pope, whose once booming voice has become increasingly frail.
