Message du pape Benoît XV pour la XIVe Journée mondiale du Malade

Nouvelles du 06-02- 2006
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2006-12-08

Message du pape Benoît XVI pour la XIVe Journée mondiale du Malade

Séoul, Corée, 11 février 2007

VATICAN - Le Message du Pape à la Journée des Malades : “Encore une fois l’Eglise tourne son regard vers ceux qui souffrent et attire l’attention sur les maladies incurables présentes dans chaque continent, surtout dans les lieux où la pauvreté et les privations sont la cause d’immenses misères et douleurs »

Cité du Vatican (Agence Fides) - Le Message du Saint-Père Benoît XVI pour la XVe Journée Mondiale des Malades, dont la célébration principale aura lieu à Séoul (Corée), le 11 février 2007, a été publié. Dans le texte, en langue anglaise, qui porte la date du 8 décembre 2006, le Saint-Père rappelle que la XVe Journée Mondiale des Malades aura lieu le jour où l’Eglise fait mémoire liturgique de Notre-Dame de Lourdes : « Encore une fois l’Eglise tourne son regard vers ceux qui souffrent et attire l’attention sur les maladies incurables… présentes dans chaque continent, surtout dans les lieux où la pauvreté et les privations sont la cause d’immenses misères et douleurs ».
Dans son Message le Saint-Père montre que « malgré les progrès de la science, il n’existe pas encore de soins pour toutes les maladies, aussi rencontrons-nous, dans les hôpitaux, dans les hospices et dans les maisons du monde entier, la souffrance de beaucoup de nos frères et sœurs, malades incurables et souvent en phase terminale. En outre, plusieurs millions de personnes dans notre monde pâtissent encore de conditions de vie insalubres et n’ont pas accès à l’assistance médicale de base, nécessaire, avec pour résultat que le nombre des personnes humaines considérées comme « incurables » a sensiblement augmenté ».
L’Eglise désire soutenir les malades incurables et en phase terminale en attirant l’attention sur la nécessité de promouvoir des politiques sociales qui puissent contribuer à éliminer les causes de nombreuses maladies et « créer des conditions dans lesquelles les êtres humains puissent supporter des maladies incurables et la mort avec dignité ». Le Pape rappelle encore une fois la nécessité d’avoir un plus grand nombre de centres pour les soins palliatifs, fournissant une assistance intégrale, l’assistance humaine et l’accompagnement spirituel dont les malades ont besoin. « Il s’agit d’un droit humain qui appartient à tout être humain, que nous tous nous devons nous engager à défendre ».

Le Pape encourage les efforts de tous ceux qui travaillent quotidiennement pour assurer les soins dont ont besoin les malades en phase terminale et incurables ainsi que leurs familles, et rappelle que « l’Eglise, suivant l’exemple du Bon Samaritain, a toujours montré une sollicitude particulière pour l’infirme » à travers ses membres et ses institutions. Puis, s’adressant aux « chers frères et sœurs souffrants », le Saint-Père les exhorte à « contempler les souffrances du Christ crucifié », avec la confiance que leurs souffrances, « unies à celles du Christ, seront fructueuses pour les besoins de l’Eglise et du monde ». Dans la conclusion de son Message, le Pape Benoît XVI rappelle aux malades : « à travers ses prêtres et les opérateurs pastoraux l’Eglise désire vous aider en restant à vos côtés, vous aidant dans les moments difficiles, et manifestant ainsi l’amour miséricordieux du Christ envers ceux qui souffrent ». Aux communautés ecclésiales du monde entier, et particulièrement à celles consacrées au soin des infirmes, le Pape demande de « continuer, avec l’aide de Marie, Salus Infirmorum, à donner un témoignage concret de l’attention aimante de Dieu notre Père ». (S.L.) (Agence Fides 14/12/2006 - Lignes 33, mots 472)

Texte intégral du Message du Pape Benoît XVI en anglais

site Zenit

Date: 2006-12-08

Pope's Message for 15th World Day of the Sick

Seoul, South Korea on February 11

See message in English

VATICAN - The Pope’s Message for World Day of the Sick 2007: “Once again the Church turns her eyes to those who suffer and calls attention to the many incurably ill on every continent, particularly in places where poverty and hardship cause immense misery and grief ”

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father's Message for the 15th World Day of the Sick was made public on December 13. The event is due to be celebrated in Seoul, South Korea on February 11, 2007, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In his Message, published in English and dated December 8, the Holy Father writes that: “Once again the Church turns her eyes to those who suffer and calls attention to the many incurably ill … on every continent, particularly in places where poverty and hardship cause immense misery and grief ”.

The Pope continues: "Despite the advances in science a cure cannot be found for every illness and thus, in hospitals, hospices and homes throughout the world, we encounter the sufferings of our many brothers and sisters who are incurably and often terminally ill. In addition many millions of people in our world still experience unhealthy living conditions, and are denied access to much needed medical resources, often of the most basic kind, with the result that the number of human beings considered ‘incurable’ has greatly increased”.

The Church wishes to support the incurably ill and terminally by calling for just social policies which can help eliminate the causes of many diseases and by urging improved care for the dying and those for whom no medical remedy is available. There is need to promote policies which “create conditions where human beings can bear even incurable illnesses and death in a dignified manner”. The Pope recalls once again the need for more palliative Care Centres which provide integral care, offering the sick the human assistance and spiritual accompaniment they need. “This is a right belonging to every human being, a right which we must all be committed to defend”.

The Pope encourages the efforts of those who work every day to ensure that the incurably and terminally ill, together with the families, receive adequate and loving care, “the Church, following the example of the Good Samaritan, has always shown particular concern for the infirm” through her members and her institutions.

Addressing the “dear brothers and sisters suffering from incurable diseases”, the Holy Father encourages them to “contemplate the sufferings of Christi crucified”, confident that their sufferings “united with those of Christ, will prove fruitful for the needs of the Church and the world". The Pope concludes reminding the sick: “through her priests and pastoral workers the Church wishes to assist you and stand at your side, helping you in your hour of need, and thus making present Christ’s own loving mercy towards those who suffer…I ask ecclesial communities throughout the world, and particularly those dedicated to the service of the infirm, with the help of Mary Salus Infirmorum, to bear effective witness to the loving concern of God our Father”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 14/12/2006 - Righe 33, parole 472)

* * *

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
FOR THE FIFTEENTH WORLD DAY OF THE SICK

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On 11 February 2007, when the Church keeps the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Fifteenth World Day of the Sick will be celebrated in Seoul, Korea. A number of meetings, conferences, pastoral gatherings and liturgical celebrations will take place with representatives of the Church in Korea, health care personnel, the sick and their families. Once again the Church turns her eyes to those who suffer and calls attention to the incurably ill, many of whom are dying from terminal diseases. They are found on every continent, particularly in places where poverty and hardship cause immense misery and grief. Conscious of these sufferings, I will be spiritually present at the World Day of the Sick, united with those meeting to discuss the plight of the incurably ill in our world and encouraging the efforts of Christian communities in their witness to the Lord’s tenderness and mercy.

Sickness inevitably brings with it a moment of crisis and sober confrontation with one’s own personal situation. Advances in the health sciences often provide the means necessary to meet this challenge, at least with regard to its physical aspects. Human life, however, has intrinsic limitations, and sooner or later it ends in death. This is an experience to which each human being is called, and one for which he or she must be prepared. Despite the advances of science, a cure cannot be found for every illness, and thus, in hospitals, hospices and homes throughout the world we encounter the sufferings of our many brothers and sisters who are incurably and often terminally ill. In addition, many millions of people in our world still experience insanitary living conditions and lack access to much-needed medical resources, often of the most basic kind, with the result that the number of human beings considered “incurable” is greatly increased.

The Church wishes to support the incurably and terminally ill by calling for just social policies which can help to eliminate the causes of many diseases and by urging improved care for the dying and those for whom no medical remedy is available. There is a need to promote policies which create conditions where human beings can bear even incurable illnesses and death in a dignified manner. Here it is necessary to stress once again the need for more palliative care centres which provide integral care, offering the sick the human assistance and spiritual accompaniment they need. This is a right belonging to every human being, one which we must all be committed to defend.

Here I would like to encourage the efforts of those who work daily to ensure that the incurably and terminally ill, together with their families, receive adequate and loving care. The Church, following the example of the Good Samaritan, has always shown particular concern for the infirm. Through her individual members and institutions, she continues to stand alongside the suffering and to attend the dying, striving to preserve their dignity at these significant moments of human existence. Many such individuals – health care professionals, pastoral agents and volunteers – and institutions throughout the world are tirelessly serving the sick, in hospitals and in palliative care units, on city streets, in housing projects and parishes.

I now turn to you, my dear brothers and sisters suffering from incurable and terminal diseases. I encourage you to contemplate the sufferings of Christ crucified, and, in union with him, to turn to the Father with complete trust that all life, and your lives in particular, are in his hands. Trust that your sufferings, united to those of Christ, will prove fruitful for the needs of the Church and the world. I ask the Lord to strengthen your faith in his love, especially during these trials that you are experiencing. It is my hope that, wherever you are, you will always find the spiritual encouragement and strength needed to nourish your faith and bring you closer to the Father of Life. Through her priests and pastoral workers, the Church wishes to assist you and stand at your side, helping you in your hour of need, and thus making present Christ’s own loving mercy towards those who suffer.

In conclusion, I ask ecclesial communities throughout the world, and particularly those dedicated to the service of the infirm, to continue, with the help of Mary, Salus Infirmorum, to bear effective witness to the loving concern of God our Father. May the Blessed Virgin, our Mother, comfort those who are ill and sustain all who have devoted their lives, as Good Samaritans, to healing the physical and spiritual wounds of those who suffer. United to each of you in thought and prayer, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of strength and peace in the Lord.

From the Vatican, 8 December 2006

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI