Pope Benedict XVI urges solidarity with tuberculosis victims

(22 Mar. 2007) : In view of the International World Tuberculosis Day dedicated to the victims of Tuberculosis scheduled for Saturday March 24^th, Pope Benedict XVI made an appeal at the end of Wednesday’s General Audience, for solidarity with the victims of tuberculosis. The Pope's appeal was a precursor to the International Day, sponsored by the U.N. World Health Organization and observed on March 24 each year. The Pontiff invoked upon those suffering from tuberculosis and their families "the comfort of the Lord," and he encouraged "the many initiatives of aid that the Church promotes in this area." According to the statistics published by the World Health Organization in March, approximately one-third of the world's population is infected with tuberculosis germs. The 2007 global report will be published Thursday.