Vatican urges determination in fighting leprosy

(January 27, 2012) While calling on individuals, organizations and governments to join in the fight in eradicating Hansen’s disease or leprosy, the Vatican is also urging the world to help remove the stigma of the disease from those hit by it by healing and re-integrating them into society through employment. The Vatican’s Pontifical Council of Health Pastoral Care on Friday issued a message in view of this year’s World Leprosy Day, scheduled for Sunday, Jan 26, saying, "The fight against Hansen's disease is the commitment of all men of good will." “Persons who are treated and healed from leprosy must be able to express all the richness of their dignity and spirituality…”, said the message signed by council president, Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski. He encouraged individuals, voluntary organizations, church groups and governments to persevere with determination in ensuring the ground gained against the disease is not lost, and relapses and new cases are prevented. Citing figures by the United Nation’s World Health Organization (WHO), Archbishop Zimowski said new infections continues to decline and currently stands at around 200 thousand, but the bacterium that causes leprosy has not been eradicated. He recalled that Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the Catholic Church’s World Day of the Sick, Feb. 11, on the theme, "Get up and go, your faith has saved you", taken from the Gospel episode of Jesus healing the 10 lepers, saying it focuses attention on those hit by the disease. The Lord does not abandon those who with faith cry up to him in their suffering and disease. This love and compassion of the Lord is expressed through the individual and collective commitment of individuals, the Church and other organizations.