Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - Father Pascal Piles, Superior general of the Hospitaller Brothers of St John of God is about to go to Mozambique and Senegal. He sent us a comment on the figure of Pope John Paul in the world of the sick assisted by the St John of God Brothers.
“We are closely linked with the figure of Pope John Paul II who has always shown deep sensitivity towards people who suffer. He lived suffering in his homeland Poland under Communism, moral suffering lived with his people and with the members of the Church and this increased his awareness of suffering which grew even more with his suffering in the past 10-15 years since he developed Parkinson’s disease.
For the whole Church, but for us in particular his Apostolic Letter Salvifici doloris was a magnificent gift. He offered testimony lived according to the Gospel including his own personal experience which led him to open the pedagogical dimension of suffering for those who suffer and for those who care for them. A continual catechesis for our life which he revealed in one of his first Letters Dives Misericordia, speaking of God’s love and mercy on the basis of the Gospel according to St Luke and later confirmed by numerous letters and message from disabled persons, the elderly and the sick. He had a special approach to children, and the elderly but also to the sick. We benefited from his presence in two of our hospitals in Rome on the Tiberina Island and Villa San Pietro and he always thanked us for our mission among the sick.
Since the death of the Pope message of sympathy have come from the fifty countries in which we operate. Special prayers are being said in hospitals and clinics. We have received messages from our confreres in Oceania, Asia, Latin America and Africa telling how the local people, of many different faiths are mourning the death of Pope John Paul II.” (AP) (5/4/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:30; Parole:395)
