Vatican City, Nov 24, 2020 / 06:00 am
Pope Francis hailed Argentina's healthcare workers as the "unsung heroes" of the coronavirus pandemic in a video message released Friday.
In the video, posted on the YouTube account of the Argentine bishops' conference Nov. 20, the pope expressed his appreciation of doctors and nurses in his homeland.
He said: "You are the unsung heroes of this pandemic. How many of you have given your lives to be close to the sick! Thanks for the closeness, thanks for the tenderness, thanks for the professionalism with which you take care of the sick."
The pope recorded the message ahead of Argentina's Nursing Day on Nov. 21 and Doctors' Day on Dec. 3. His words were introduced by Bishop Alberto Bochatey, auxiliary bishop of La Plata and president of the Argentine bishops' health commission, who described them as "a surprise."