DAUGHTERS OF ST. CAMILLO: MAKE CHRIST PRESENT FOR FELLOW MAN

VATICAN CITY, JUN 15, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in audience participants in the general chapter of the Institute of the Daughters of St. Camillo who are reflecting upon the spiritual patrimony received by the blessed founders Giuseppina Vannini and Luigi Tezza "to consciously and enthusiastically follow the way of holiness."

John Paul II praised "the generous effort in the service of the poor and sick", as well as the impulse of the religious, present on four continents, "to missionary activity in South America, the East and Eastern Europe," and he encouraged them to "continue on this path."

"Make Christ, ever-merciful, present in every encounter with your neighbor, beginning with your congregation. May the spirit of fraternal charity reign among you so that every sister feels understood and valued in her capacities and may nobody complain of injustice or abuse."

The Pope underlined that the Daughters of St. Camillo were "called to be concrete signs of the mercy of Christ, especially where suffering oppresses human beings in body and spirit. ... Following the example of St. Camillo and of the blessed founders, do not hesitate to proclaim with words, but above all with action, the joy of sacrificing your existence for your brothers in need."

"Through your health institutions and schools," he concluded, "may you be promoters of authentic humanity and charity, capable of sustaining in those who have contact with the sick the desire to transform 'curing' into 'caring' and 'profession' into 'vocation'."

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