(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis greeted the participants of the Jubilee of the Sick and Disabled after the recitation of the Sunday Angelus , he turned his attention to those who live “on the edges” of society and to those affected by leprosy.
Speaking to those present in the in St Peter’s Square for Sunday’s special Jubilee, Pope Francis thanked them for having wanted to be present for the celebration in their state of “illness or disability” and he expressed heartfelt gratitude to their caregivers.
The Pope also had special words of thanks for all the doctors and medical workers who are present on Sunday at special “Health Centers” set up at the four Papal Basilicas in Rome and who are busy offering specialized medical visits to the hundreds of poor people in Rome who live on the margins of society.
Pope Francis also recalled those who are affected by leprosy and said that within the context of the Jubilee for the Sick, an international Conference took place in Rome this past week dedicated to the care of people affected by Hansen’s disease.
“My gratitude goes to the organizers and participants of this conference and I hope for a fruitful commitment in the fight against this disease” he said.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has decried the pursuit for perfect bodies, saying it leads to society hiding away the disabled to avoid offending the sensibilities of what he described as “the privileged few.”
Celebrating Holy Mass on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee of the Sick and Disabled , the Pope called for solidarity and mutual acceptance in a world in which a perfect appearance has become an obsession as wells as “big business”.
Please find below the full text of Pope Francis’ Homily :
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:19). In these words, the Apostle Paul powerfully expresses the mystery of the Christian life, which can be summed up in the paschal dynamic of death and resurrection received at baptism. Indeed, through immersion in water, each of us, as it were, dies and is buried with Christ (cf. Rom 6:3-4), and remerging, shows forth new life in the Holy Spirit. This rebirth embraces every aspect of our lives: even sickness, suffering and death are taken up in Christ and in him find their ultimate meaning. Today, on the Jubilee day devoted to the sick and bearers of disabilities, this word of life has a special resonance for our assembly.
Each of us, sooner or later, is called to face – at times painfully – frailty and illness, both our own and those of others. How many different faces do these common yet dramatically human experiences take! Yet all of them directly raise the pressing question of the meaning of life. Our hearts may quietly yield to cynicism, as if the only solution were simply to put up with these experiences, trusting only in our own strength. Or we may put complete trust in science, thinking that surely somewhere in the world there is a medicine capable of curing the illness. Sadly, however, this is not always the case, and, even if the medicine did exist, it would be accessible to very few people.
Human nature, wounded by sin, is marked by limitations. We are familiar with the objections raised, especially nowadays, to a life characterized by serious physical limitations. It is thought that sick or disabled persons cannot be happy, since they cannot live the lifestyle held up by the culture of pleasure and entertainment. In an age when care for one’s body has become an obsession and a big business, anything imperfect has to be hidden away, since it threatens the happiness and serenity of the privileged few and endangers the dominant model. Such persons should best be kept apart, in some “enclosure” – even a gilded one – or in “islands” of pietism or social welfare, so that they do not hold back the pace of a false well-being. In some cases, we are even told that it is better to eliminate them as soon as possible, because they become an unacceptable economic burden in time of crisis. Yet what an illusion it is when people today shut their eyes in the face of sickness and disability! They fail to understand the real meaning of life, which also has to do with accepting suffering and limitations. The world does not become better because only apparently “perfect” people live there – I say “perfect” rather than “false” – but when human solidarity, mutual acceptance and respect increase. How true are the words of the Apostle: “God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor 1:27)!
This Sunday’s Gospel (Lk 7:36-8:3) presents us with a specific situation of weakness. The woman caught in sin is judged and rejected, yet Jesus accepts and defends her: “She has shown great love” (7:47). This is the conclusion of Jesus, who is attentive to her suffering and her plea. This tenderness is a sign of the love that God shows to those who suffer and are cast aside. Suffering need not only be physical; one of today’s most frequent pathologies is also spiritual. It is a suffering of the heart; it causes sadness for lack of love. It is the pathology of sadness. When we experience disappointment or betrayal in important relationships, we come to realize how vulnerable and defenceless we are. The temptation to become self-absorbed grows stronger, and we risk losing life’s greatest opportunity: to love in spite of everything!
The happiness that everyone desires, for that matter, can be expressed in any number of ways and attained only if we are capable of loving. This is the way. It is always a matter of love; there is no other path. The true challenge is that of who loves the most. How many disabled and suffering persons open their hearts to life again as soon as they realize they are loved! How much love can well up in a heart simply with a smile! The therapy of smiling. Then our frailness itself can become a source of consolation and support in our solitude. Jesus, in his passion, loved us to the end (cf. Jn 13:1); on the cross he revealed the love that bestows itself without limits. Can we reproach God for our infirmities and sufferings when we realize how much suffering shows on the face of his crucified Son? His physical pain was accompanied by mockery, condescension and scorn, yet he responds with a mercy that accepts and forgives everything: “by his wounds we are healed” (Is 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24). Jesus is the physician who heals with the medicine of love, for he takes upon himself our suffering and redeems it. We know that God can understand our infirmities, because he himself has personally experienced them (cf. Heb 4:15).
The way we experience illness and disability is an index of the love we are ready to offer. The way we face suffering and limitation is the measure of our freedom to give meaning to life’s experiences, even when they strike us as meaningless and unmerited. Let us not be disturbed, then, by these tribulations (cf. 1 Th 3:3). We know that in weakness we can become strong (cf. 2 Cor 12:10) and receive the grace to fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for his body, the Church (cf. Col 1:24). For that body, in the image of the risen Lord’s own, keeps its wounds, the mark of a hard struggle, but they are wounds transfigured for ever by love.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, addressed the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in the Context of Peacekeeping Operations on Friday. Archbishop Auza urged the UN to take positive measures to prevent open violence against civilian populations. The Holy See also called for arms control and the limiting of the manufacture, sale and gifting of “horrendous weapons” which are later used to terrorize civilian populations.
Please read Archbishop Auza’s full address below:
Mr. President,
The Holy See commends the Presidency of France for bringing this extremely important topic to the attention of the Security Council and to the International Community. The long history of peacekeeping operations, with their successes and shortcomings, offers a rich reservoir of lessons learned with which to develop parameters for more effective strategy in conflict prevention and conflict resolution, as well as in defining mandates and rules of engagement.
The same history tells us about the evolution in the mandates that peacekeeping missions have been receiving from this Council. For instance, one might presume that an essential mandate of peacekeeping operations has always been the protection of civilians. Yet this is a relatively recent development. In fact, the first peacekeeping operation to receive the explicit mandate to protect civilians was the UN Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone in 1999.
While my delegation considers the protection of civilians a positive evolution of UN peacekeeping mandates, paradoxically it also points to the disturbing fact that more and more civilians are being targeted during armed conflict and indeed used as weapons of war. This is one of the saddest developments in the evolution of armed conflict. In the early 1900s, around 5 percent of fatalities were civilians, while in the 1990s, over 90 percent of the fatalities were non-combatants. Recent reports and studies unanimously affirm that deliberate targeting of and indiscriminate attacks on civilians are increasing. Untold violence willfully inflicted upon civilian populations and the defiant violations of international humanitarian law in many current conflicts are all too flagrant.
My delegation thus believes that in all cases where mass atrocities and other forms of attacks against defenseless civilian populations are being perpetrated or are most likely to happen, the protection of civilians in armed conflict must be a critical component of peacekeeping mission mandates. It would be one of the primary yardsticks with which to measure the success or failure of a peacekeeping mission. Every peacekeeping operation should be, at the end of the day, all about saving lives.
The evolution in UN mandates also tells us that peacekeeping missions have become much more than instruments for restoring peace after conflicts have erupted. Considering the decisive importance of both prevention and post-conflict peace consolidation, peacekeeping missions must also be deployed to prevent latent conflicts from exploding into open violence and to prevent post-conflict situations from descending again into violence.
While conflict prevention is primarily a function of diplomatic negotiations and mediations and post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building are often seen as the work of development experts and social scientists, particularly grave cases warrant a preventive peacekeeping mission to realistically stop latent conflicts from exploding, thus sparing populations from the scourges of death and destruction. In the same manner, lessons learned suggest that pulling peacekeeping missions too early can be extremely costly in every way.
A sure way to protect civilians during armed conflict is the preventive strategy of arms control. The Holy See renews its call upon arms producers and States to limit the manufacture, sale and gifting of horrendous weapons that are later used to terrorize the civilian population or destroy civilian infrastructure.
In the name of Pope Francis, my delegation wishes to express deep appreciation in particular for the work of the peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic. Without ignoring the disturbing allegations of crimes committed by some peacekeepers and without underestimating the danger that the Country could still fall back to violence, MINUSCA has contributed substantially to calming down the situation, to assisting the displaced and those victimized, and to maintaining an atmosphere that is conducive to the pacification of the population, the regular functioning of the institutions and the return to normal life. The multidimensional mandate of MINUSCA overall augurs well for the reconstruction and institutional capacity building efforts that underpin durable peace and sustainable development in the Country.
Moreover, the Holy See would like to express its profound gratitude to MINUSCA for all the help it rendered to make the visit of Pope Francis in Bangui safe and fruitful. The President of the Central African Republic spoke about the fruit of the Pope’s visit at the recent World Humanitarian Summit, saying, « Avec le passage du Saint Père dans mon pays la situation humanitaire s’est nettement apaisée caractérisé par un désarmement du coeur avec un retour de l’esprit de cohésion sociale et du vivre ensemble. »
The Holy See follows with interest the activities of the UN peacekeeping missions in different hot spots in the world and reiterates its commitment to collaborate, where possible, in the work of conflict prevention, conflict resolution, post-conflict stabilization and peace consolidation.
Thank you, Mr. President.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, addressed the UN’s High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS Friday. He noted that as many as fifty percent of HIV-positive children die before their second birthday because they lack access to necessary diagnosis, treatment and medication. In fact, he said, the majority of HIV-positive children are not diagnosed until they are four years of age. The Holy See recently took up these concerns by convoking meetings at the Vatican with the executives of drug companies so that a more timely and affordable response can be made to address this tragedy.
P lease find the full statement of Archbishop Auza following, delivered in English:
Mr. President,
After years of shocking narratives on the loss of health and life among men, women and children living with HIV, my delegation is pleased with the progress detailed in the Secretary General’s Report “On the Fast-Track to End the AIDS Epidemic.” It is indeed heartening to set strategic goals and benchmarks with a view to ending this disease, and to do so within the more comprehensive framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. My delegation, however, urges the international community to pay equal attention to the cautionary note raised in the same Report, namely, that “AIDS is far from over […] despite remarkable progress,” and “if we accept the status quo unchanged, the epidemic will rebound in several low- and middle-income countries.”
In this regard, Catholic-inspired organizations often report the persistent obstacles posed by lack of access to early diagnosis and treatment; by lack of appropriate, affordable, and accessible “child-friendly” formulations and dosages of medications for pediatric use; by changes in funding priorities imposed by donor governments and agencies resulting in disruptions of services for those who do not live in the so-called HIV “hot spots”; by frequent stock-outs of medicines and diagnostic equipment and supplies; by interruptions of treatment, especially of women and young people who are subjected to stigma, discrimination and physical and emotional abuse as a result of their HIV status. While global goals and targets will be essentially moving forward, they must be anchored in reality, integrating the very real concerns that respective countries have in considering the holistic well-being of their people. Discrimination and stigmatization can never be an excuse to exclude or leave anyone behind. Every effort must be made to distinguish between policies that discriminate and stigmatize and those that are put in place to discourage risk-taking behaviors and encourage responsible and healthy relationships, especially among youth. While access to prevention, treatment and health care services must be guaranteed to all, they will never be enough by themselves to end HIV transmission and AIDS. We must continue to address their root causes and promote healthy lifestyles.
The obstacles to eradicating the spread of HIV/AIDS give ample evidence of the fact that in different parts of the world, especially in many regions of Africa, health care is still a privilege of the few who can afford it. As Pope Francis has said, access to health care, treatment, and medicines remains a dream for too many. Health-related issues, such as HIV/AIDS and related infections, require urgent political attention, above and beyond all other commercial or political interests. The international community must find the will, the technical expertise, the resources and the methods that provide access to diagnosis and treatment for all, and not simply for a privileged few, for “there is no human life that is more sacred than another, as there is no human life that is qualitatively more significant than another.”
Presently, as many as fifty percent of HIV-positive children die before their second birthday, because they do not have access to the necessary diagnosis, treatment and medication. In fact, the majority of HIV-positive children are not diagnosed until they are four years of age. Taking up these concerns, the Holy See recently convened two meetings in the Vatican with the executive-level leaders of companies that manufacture pharmaceuticals and diagnostic equipment, in order to plan a timelier and more appropriate response to children living with HIV and tuberculosis. These business leaders, together with representatives of specialized multilateral organizations, governments, religious and other non-governmental organizations, agreed that providing affordable, appropriate, and accessible HIV medicines and diagnostic tools for pediatric use everywhere is an urgent global goal, thus committing themselves to overcoming the obstacles and accelerating access to diagnosis, treatment and medication for children living with HIV/AIDS. The Holy See and all the institutions of the Catholic Church are motivated more than ever to consider the plight of children living with HIV. Together let us muster the will, continue to sharpen the technical expertise already available and find the resources necessary to provide access to diagnosis, care and treatment, not only for a privileged few, but for all.
Thank you, Mr. President.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) An estimated 650 participants attending a congress for people with disabilities, gathered in the Paul VI hall on Saturday to be greeted by Pope Francis where he also answered questions from a number of those gathered.
The congress organized by the Italian Bishops Conference was taking place on the occasion of the Year of Mercy jubilee celebration for the sick and persons with disabilities, and on the 25th anniversary of the Sector for Catechesis for the disabled run by the Italian National Catechetical Office.
Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s report
In his prepared remarks, the Pope said, that this 25th anniversary offered them the chance to renew their commitment to ensure that disabled people were fully welcomed in parishes, associations and ecclesial movements.
During the encounter Pope Francis took questions from a number of participants. One of those gathered was Fr Luigi who came from a parish in the South of Rome. He explained to the Pope that sometimes even in his parish not everyone has the capacity to be really welcoming and asked the Holy Father, how was it possible to educate people so they are able to welcome everyone? The Holy Father respond by saying that there was a richness in diversity and it was important to remember that in order to move forward.
Another participant Serena told the Pope that she at times was not aloud to take part in certain celebrations with other people in her parish, due to her disability and asked the Pope to explain to her why this could be so? Pope Francis replied by saying many people are the subject of discrimination and that was a terrible thing. He added that sometimes there are reasons for decisions taken, but told Serena that she as a disabled person had the possibility to be better and that everyone had the possibility to grow.
Following the event the Holy Father greeted the many people with disabilities gathered, many of whom had come bearing gifts for him.
(from Vatican Radio)…