By welcoming those who work at sea and in hospital wards, Pope Francis highlighted the work of the ancient “crew”: together in diversity, for a success that depends on the contribution of all. He urged health workers to take care of themselves, so as to never fail in their dedicated service to “the most vulnerable.”
Vatican News
VATICAN CITY, Saturday, November 23, 2024 (REI): On Saturday, November 23, in the Saint Paul VI Auditorium of the Vatican, the Holy Father addresses fishermen from different parts of Italy and the participants of the Conference on National Health Services in Europe, promoted by the Italian Episcopal Conference.
“A few days before World Fisheries Day, dear brothers and sisters of the maritime world, I address you first of all,” the Pope said. Your business is very old; The beginning of the Church is also related to this, which Jesus Christ entrusted to Peter, who was a fisherman in Galilee.” The Pope said that today this profession faces several difficulties. Therefore, he suggested considering the importance of your actions and the mission associated with this value.
The Pope said fishermen adopt an important perspective on the Gospel. For example, the disciples worked hard all night because of the contrary wind, but tired, they returned to the ground empty-handed, saying: “We have worked hard all night and have not eaten anything” (Luke 5:5). The Pope told them that, like the disciples, they too work hard, facing the usual challenges and new problems, such as difficult generational changes, increasing costs, suffocating bureaucracy and pressures from large multinationals. Competition, etc., requires sacrifice and perseverance, but on the contrary, it encourages another characteristic of yours: unity as a team, or better yet, it is necessary to work together as a community, in which, despite the diversity of roles. , the success of everyone’s work depends on everyone’s contribution. In this way, fishing becomes a school of life, in the measure of Jesus. Used as a symbol to indicate the call: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17).
The Pope entrusted them to the intercession of his patron saint, Saint Francis of Pavla.
everyone needs care
The Holy Father then addressed the participants in the conference being held on National Health Services in Europe. And focused on two aspects of the experience of working together as a team.
First aspect: Take care of those who take care of others. “It is really important that you, health care workers, are also people who need the same help as the brothers and sisters you treat,” the Pope said. The fatigue of grueling shifts, the worries you carry in your heart, and the pain you accumulate from your patients require rest and healing. Therefore I urge you not to neglect each other, but to be protective of each other; And I tell everyone that it is important to recognize and reciprocate their generosity, to ensure respect, honor and help.”
Second aspect: Compassion for the most vulnerable. The Pope said that in reality no one is so self-sufficient that they do not need care, so no one can be marginalized to such a point that they cannot be cared for. The health system and the services from which you come, in this sense, have a great history of sensitivity, especially towards those to whom the “system” does not have access, towards those who are “abandoned”. The Pope remembered the numerous saints, including Saint John of God, Saint Joseph Moscati, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, who over the centuries founded hospices for the sick and pilgrims; All of them were true “healers”, caring for the patient.
The Pope asked them to activate health systems from within, so that no one is left behind or abandoned.
“Medicine” for the family, the healthy and the sick
The Holy Father said that he has come to meet with the entire family. Reminding them of the importance of the family, the unit of society, both are fundamental to their work. Their families help them adapt to the demanding schedule and pace of their work, which is not only a profession but an “art”, and therefore involves the entire person and their environment. Then for the support that your family members give you in your hard work and often in the activity itself. That is why the Pope urges them to protect their family relationships: they are “medicine” for both the healthy and the sick. Isolation and individualism, in fact, open the door to harmful hope and make the soul and, often, the body sick.
