Pope’s Homily on the World day of the Sick: Life is not a disposable good

(February 12, 2009) "Man's life is not a disposable good, but a treasure to be preserved and cared for with as much attentiveness as possible, from the moment of its beginning to its ultimate and natural fulfilment." This is the warning expressed today by Pope Benedict XVI for the World Day of the Sick, in his greetings to those at St. Peter's Basilica who took part in the afternoon Mass celebrated by Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers. "Life is a mystery," the pope continued, "which intrinsically requires responsibility, love, patience, charity, on the part of all and of each. It is even more necessary to surround with concern and respect those who are sick and suffering. For us Christians, it is in Christ that the enigma of suffering and death finds its answer, said the Pope. The Holy Father then added saying, that in his message he wanted to put special focus on sick children, who are the weakest and most defenceless creatures. It's true! If the sight of a suffering adult already leaves us speechless, what can be said when the evil strikes an innocent child? How we can perceive, even in such difficult situations, the merciful love of God, who never abandons his children in their time of trial, he said. God created man for happiness and for life, while sickness and death entered the world as the consequence of sin. But the Lord has not abandoned us to ourselves; He, the Father of life, is man's physician par excellence, and he does not cease to stoop down lovingly to suffering humanity." Finally, Pope Benedict XVI pointed out that John Paul II wanted the World Day of the Sick to coincide with the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. "In that sacred place, our heavenly Mother came to remind us that we are only passing travellers on this earth, and that man's true and definitive home is Heaven. We must all strive toward this destination,” he said.