Vatican
City, 25 July 2013 (VIS) – At 6.30 p.m., local time, Pope Francis
arrived at the Hospital Sao Francisco de Assis na Providencia de Deus
(St Francis of Assisi of the Providence of God Hospital) of the
Venerable Third Order of St. Francis, a centre dedicated to drug- or
alcohol-dependent patients and which provides free medical and
surgical assistance for indigenous peoples. The hospital has
approximately five hundred beds and is managed by the eponymous
Association, founded in 1985 by Brother Francis. Upon arrival Pope
Francis was received by the director of the Association and by the
secretary of State for health, and proceeded directly to the chapel
where he was welcomed with songs, prayers, greetings and the profound
testimony of two patients.
“God
has willed that my journey, after the Shrine of Our Lady of
Aparecida, should take me to a particular shrine of human suffering –
the St. Francis of Assisi Hospital”, said the Pope, who went on to
speak of the saint's conversion: “the young Francis abandoned the
riches and comfort of the world in order to become a poor man among
the poor. He understood that true joy and riches do not come from the
idols of this world – material things and the possession of them –
but are to be found only in following Christ and serving others”.
In
his address, the Holy Father emphasised that we all have to learn to
embrace those in need, as Saint Francis did. “There are so many
situations in Brazil, and throughout the world, that require
attention, care and love, like the fight against chemical dependency.
Often, instead, it is selfishness that prevails in our society. How
many 'dealers of death' there are who follow the logic of power and
money at any cost! The scourge of drug-trafficking, that favours
violence and sows the seeds of suffering and death, requires of
society as a whole an act of courage. A reduction in the spread and
influence of drug addiction will not be achieved by a liberalization
of drug use, as is currently being proposed in various parts of Latin
America. Rather, it is necessary to confront the problems underlying
the use of these drugs, by promoting greater justice, educating young
people in the values that build up life in society, accompanying
those in difficulty and giving them hope for the future. We all need
to look upon one another with the loving eyes of Christ, and to learn
to embrace those in need, in order to show our closeness, affection
and love”.
The
Pope continued, “We must hold the hand of the one in need, of the
one who has fallen into the darkness of dependency perhaps without
even knowing how, and we must say to him or her: You can get up, you
can stand up. It is difficult, but it is possible if you want to.
Dear friends, I wish to say to each of you, but especially to all
those others who have not had the courage to embark on our journey:
You have to want to stand up; this is the indispensible condition!
You will find an outstretched hand ready to help you, but no one is
able to stand up in your place. But you are never alone! The Church
and so many people are close to you. Look ahead with confidence.
Yours is a long and difficult journey, but look ahead, there is a
sure future, set against a different horizon with regard to the
illusory enticements of the idols of this world, yet granting new
momentum and strength to our daily lives”.
He
urged all of those present, “Do not let yourselves be robbed of
hope! And not only that, but I say to us all: let us not rob others
of hope, let us become bearers of hope!”, and continued, “I
believe that here, in this hospital, the parable of the Good
Samaritan is made tangible. Here there is no indifference, but
concern. There is no apathy, but love”.
Finally,
the Pope thanked all medical professionals and their associates
working in the hospital: “Your service is precious; undertake it
always with love. It is a service given to Christ present in our
brothers and sisters. As Jesus says to us: 'As you did it to one of
the least of these my brethren, you did it to me'”.
He
also emphasised to all those “who struggle against drug addiction,
and to those family members who share in your difficulties” that
“the Church is not distant from your troubles, but accompanies you
with affection. The Lord is near you and he takes you by the hand.
Look to him in your most difficult moments and he will give you
consolation and hope. And trust in the maternal love of his Mother
Mary. … Where there is a cross to carry, she, our Mother, is always
there with us, by our side”.
At
the end of his visit, the Holy Father addressed some words to the
young Italians who followed the proceedings live from Maracanazinho,
exhorting them to “Trust Christ, listen to him, follow in his
footsteps. He never abandons us, not even in the darkest moments of
our lives. He is our hope. Tomorrow in Copacabana we will have an
opportunity to explore this truth more deeply, in order to shine his
light on our lives. See you tomorrow!”
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