WE MUST BOW BEFORE THOSE WHO SUFFER TO EASE THEIR BURDEN

VATICAN CITY, FEB 11, 2002 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 4:30 p.m. today, feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope's vicar general for the diocese of Rome, celebrated Mass for the sick and for pilgrims from UNITALSI and the "Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi," for the occasion of the Tenth World Day of the Sick.

At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, John Paul II arrived in the basilica to bless the sick and address some words to those present:

After recalling that the theme of this year's World Day of the Sick is taken from Jesus' words, "that they may have life, and have it abundantly," the Holy Father said: "These words represent an invitation to adopt a clear stance in favor of life and a sincere commitment to its defence, from conception to natural end. Human life is a gift of God and should always be lived as such, even in the most critical situations. On this matter we have the extremely eloquent testimony of no small number of people, some of them present this evening, who, though confined to a bed of pain for many years, are full of serenity because they know how precious the contribution of their suffering and their prayer is for the Church."

"It is just to fight against illness, because health is a gift of God. At the same time, it is important to know how to read God's design when suffering knocks at the door of our lives. For we believers, the key to understanding this mystery is the Cross of Christ. ... Only when our pains are united to His do they acquire full meaning and value. Illuminated by faith, they become a source of hope and salvation."

The Pope affirmed that today's Day of the Sick reminds us that "alongside each person who suffers, there must be a brother or sister inspired by charity." Like the Good Samaritan, "we must stop, bend over the prostrate and injured man and ease his burden and difficulties."

The Holy Father expressed his joy at the upcoming pilgrimage of Italian "disabled people" and "builders of peace" to the Holy Land, the places that "today are stricken by so much violence and bathed, alas, in so much blood." This pilgrimage, he added, "represents an eloquent gesture of solidarity between handicapped persons and, at the same time, it is a message of hope for everyone. It is my heartfelt wish that this fine initiative may contribute to making solidarity and peace prevail in that Land, presently marked by hatred and war."

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