Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tirana (Fides Service) - The terminally ill, the suffering, the elderly at the Home for the Poor run by Missionaries of Charity in Tirana in Albania understand the Pope’s present situation in hospital and they are praying for him Sr Madgalene one of the nuns told Fides. The Missionaries of Charity are Mother Teresa’s Sisters and true to their calling they care for those who are most neglected and shunned. The Sisters work in Albania a country which suffered under years of communist dictatorship and now has to deal with criminality, social hardship and corruption as it struggles on the path towards development.
Sr Magdalene told Fides about life in their house at present: “As we serve each person, in whom we see the suffering Christ, we pray for the Pope all the time, we offer Mass for him and pray for him in front of the Blessed Sacrament. We invite the people at our home to pray with us. They know what it means to suffer and they are deeply sympathetic with the Holy Father in his present condition”, the Sister said, adding that her Sisters share her experience in Tirana.
“People in general in Tirana are genuinely concerned for the health of the Holy Father - Sr Magdalene said. We go regularly to visit people who are bedridden or in need of special care in their homes and they all ask about the Pope and want him to know that they pray for him. The poor especially show great love for this Pope. Local Orthodox Christians and Muslims also have great respect for John Paul II and have assured us that they are praying for him. People know we are Catholic nuns and many stop us in the street to say that they are thinking of the Pope and wishing him a speedy recovery. For our part, we know that his life is in the hands of our loving God”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 3/3/2005 righe 24 parole 254)
