Vatican City, Nov 16, 2005 / 22:00 pm
In a message, sent today to the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), currently meeting in Assisi, Italy, Pope Benedict stressed the importance of Catholic health care ministry, saying that it stems from the heart of the Church’s mission.
The CEI meeting, which concludes tomorrow, marks the conference’s 55th general assembly. The bishops have decided to devote special attention, among other issues, to the formation of future priests and to the presence of the Church in the world of health care.
Highlighting the importance of pastoral health care ministry, the Holy Father said that while "illness certainly poses serious and complex problems of social organization,…first and foremost, it constitutes a fundamental dimension of the human experience, one that cries out to the mission of the Church and to the conscience of believers.
“Indeed,” he said, “it was not by chance that the Lord accompanied His announcement of salvation with much healing of suffering people; and the Christian community in all times has made the care of the sick an emblem of Christian charity.”
The Pope recalled "the witness given us by my beloved predecessor John Paul II”, which “remains engraved in our hearts. He made the cathedra of suffering the pinnacle of his Magisterium.”
“Illuminated and encouraged by such a great testimony,” he said, “the Church is called to express solidarity and care towards those facing the trial of sickness."