Older people are important and indispensable: Pope Francis

Vatican City, 23 Nov 2013: ‘Older people have always been the protagonists in the Church, and now, more than ever, the Church needs to set an example to the whole society of the fact that they, in spite of the inevitable ‘ailments’ are always important, indeed indispensable, said Pope Francis on Saturday morning while addressing the participants of the XXVIII International Conference of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers in Paul VI hall in the Vatican.

Older people, continued the Pope, carry with them the memory and wisdom of life, to transmit it to others, and participate fully in the Church's mission. Recall that human life always preserves its value in the eyes of God, beyond any discriminating vision, observed Pope Francis.
The 3-day Conference, 21-23 November, had the theme ‘The Church in the service of the elderly sick: the care of people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.’ About 700 researchers, doctors, professional as well as voluntary church and health workers from 57 countries, participated in the Conference.

Reflecting further on the elderly, the Pope said: the extension of life expectancy means that an increasing number of people undergoes neurodegenerative diseases, often accompanied by a deterioration of cognitive abilities. These diseases affect the world social health both in terms of research, both on the assistance and care in social care facilities, as well as in the family, which remains the privileged place of warmth and closeness.

It's important to the support of appropriate aids and services, aimed to respect the dignity, identity and the needs of the patient, but also of those who attend, family members and professionals. This is only possible in an environment of trust and as part of a mutually respectful relationship. In a real way, said the Pope, that the care becomes very rich experience both professionally and humanly, otherwise, it becomes much more similar to the simple and cold ‘physical protection’.

While speaking on the assistance necessary for the elderly, Pope Francis stressed the importance of the religious and spiritual assistance. Indeed, this is a dimension that remains viable even when cognitive abilities are reduced or lost, observed the Pope. It is to implement a particular pastoral approach to accompany the religious life of older people with serious degenerative diseases, because their minds and their hearts do not interrupt the dialogue and relationship with God.

Addressing the elderly directly, the Pope said: you are not only recipients of the Gospel message, but you are always full, even announcers by virtue of your Baptism. Every day you can live as witnesses of the Lord, in your families, in parishes and in other environments, concluded Pope Francis.Source: VR Sedoc