2024-01-30 16:49:29
Pope Francis’ February 2024 Mass of Prayer for the Month of February 2024 Calling to Pray for and Care for the Dying, Dedicated Video Message
Fr. Jinu Jacob, Vatican City
Pope Francis has published his prayer for the month of February calling for people to pray for and care for the dying. The Pope reminds us that there should be no shortage of attention and care for the dying, even though the chances of recovery are low. This mandate is given to the faithful through the Pope’s Global Prayer Fellowship.
The Pope begins his words by mentioning two terms that cause confusion when talking regarding terminal illnesses: incurable and incurable. But the two are not the same, the Pope underlines, and therefore every patient has the right to prompt, psychological, spiritual and human care and assistance, even if the chances of cure are low. Papa said that every sick person recognizes us even when they cannot speak, and if we want to understand that, we have to put their hands to ours.
Even in situations where healing is impossible, the Pope underlined that we should be able to care for the sick, quoting the words of Saint John Paul II, “Treat if possible but always care.” The services provided by palliative care systems are invaluable in this situation, the Pope pointed out, not only providing medical care but also human intimacy and support.
The Pope said that families should not be isolated in situations of terminally ill patients, but that everyone should take care to provide them with appropriate physical, spiritual and social support in these critical situations. “Let us pray that the terminally ill and their families will always receive the medical care, human care and assistance they need,” the Pope concluded his prayer.
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