Lourdes

This Past Sunday the current Pope Leo of the Catholic Church gave an address to the sick and their caregivers in Lourdes France. His words I think are a powerful witness to the sanctity of life, and I wanted to share them. Too often in our culture the elderly, the infirm, the sick, those with disabilities and many more are seen as a drain on society, a hardship our community works around, a problem in a schools and institutions. God sees them as His beloved children. I echo the Pope's words, "Dear brothers and sisters.... I want to tell you directly and from the bottom of my heart: you are not a burden. You are the beating heart of our humanity and a precious treasure for the Church."

    His full address is below.

I am deeply moved to be with you today in this place where the tenderness of God is manifested so visibly through your presence, your care, and your shared faith.

Doctors, nurses, stretcher-bearers, chaplains, pastoral teams serving the sick, and so many volunteers live out their vocation daily in the service of the dignity of the human person, so that the world may have life. The vocation of healthcare is to care for a suffering person, not to eliminate that person.

We live in a time when society is tempted by short-sighted responses to human suffering. But we must clearly state that no human law should ever make you lose the certainty of your infinite worth. On the contrary, it is precisely in the name of this inalienable dignity of the human person that we must reject the temptation to cause death under the guise of false compassion.

What is legal is not necessarily moral. It is impossible to regard causing death as something normal or humane.

Dear brothers and sisters who are sick, I want to tell you directly and from the bottom of my heart: you are not a burden. You are the beating heart of our humanity and a precious treasure for the Church. I carry in my prayers the trials you are going through, and I ask that Jesus wrap you in his gentle protection and bring you comfort and peace.

May God bless you all and keep you in His love.