Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “The Church in the Service of Love for the Suffering” is the theme chosen for the celebration of the XXV Anniversary of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers and the XVIII World Day of the Sick, scheduled to take place in Vatican City, February 9-11. The theme was taken from the title of Pope Benedict XVI's Message for the World Day of the Sick 2010. It is a day in which, as the Holy Father himself declares in the document, “the Church intends to carry out a far-reaching operation, raising the ecclesial community's awareness to the importance of pastoral service in the vast world of health care. This service is an integral part of the Church's role since it is engraved in Christ's saving mission itself. He, the divine Doctor, 'went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil' (Acts 10: 38). In the mystery of his Passion, death and Resurrection, human suffering takes on meaning and the fullness of light.”
The program includes a special Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica on February 11, the arrival of the Relics of Saint Bernadette Soubirous, a solemn procession, and a prayer before the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. It will conclude with a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI and a visit to the tomb of the Servant of God John Paul II who, in his Motu Proprio Apostolic Letter “Dolentium Hominum,” 25 years ago, established the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers.
Also, on February 9 and 10, in the “Aula Nuova del Sinodo” in the Vatican, there will be an International Symposium on two Apostolic Letters: “Salvifici Doloris” and the Motu Proprio Apostolic Letter “Dolentium Hominum.” In the course of this meeting, participants will also delve into the cultural, anthropological, and sociological aspects with contributions from various experts. In particular, they will address the issues of pain and suffering from the perspective of Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism and how they are lived and seen in African and Asian cultures. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 13/1/2010)
