Humanity Measured by Care for Sick, says Pope
(11 Feb 10 - RV) “The measure of humanity is essentially determined in its relationship to suffering and the sufferer”, this was Pope Benedict XVI’s message today, the World Day for the Sick and the feast of St Bernadette of Lourdes.
The Holy Father celebrated mass this morning here in St Peter’s Basilica together with hundreds of sick pilgrims and their carers.
Thousands more followed the event via live satellite links from the sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.
St. Peter’s basilica was filled with the sick and suffering, as well as their loved-ones and caregivers on Thursday morning, for a Mass to mark the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the 18th World Day for the sick.
Relics of the Lourdes visionary St. Bernadette Soubirous were carried in Procession to a specially prepared place in front of the Confession of St Peter that juts out from the High Altar in the Basilica, where Pope Benedict paused in prayerful recollection before the Mass.
In his homily, the Holy Father said the Church, like Mary, carries within herself the dramas of the human condition, and God’s own consolation. He said preaching the Word of God and comforting the afflicted in body and spirit are essential elements in the life and mission of the Church.
The relics of St Bernadette arrived in Rome earlier this week, on the 9th of this month, and were present in the Basilica of St Mary Major for veneration in the days leading to the Thursday feast.
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