Archbishop Zimowski calls for greater sensitivity towards autistic people

March 29, 2012: We should express greater ‘sensitivity and authentically supportive nearness to autistic people and their families’. This is the central theme of the appeal made by Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, on the occasion of the Fifth World Autism Day which will be held on 2 April 2012.

The Church, understanding the suffering and the difficulties that people with autism and their family relatives experience, sees the impelling need to offer ever greater welcome to them and to place herself at the side of these people and their families. The church would like to share, in solidarity and in prayer, their journey of suffering which, at times, also acquires features of frustration and resignation, not least because of the still low level of therapeutic results.

Recalling the parable of the Good Samaritan, he said the Church and all people of good will feel committed to being ‘travelling companions’ with those who live with Autism. It becomes more incisive this year, given that this World Day is taking pace during Holy Week, which draws us near to the suffering, the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Archbishop Zimowski said that the scientific world and health-care policies must also be encouraged to engage in and, where necessary, increase, diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative pathways that can address a pathology which affects more people in numerical terms than could have been imagined only a few years ago.

He said that ‘all our autistic brothers and sisters and their families who, although enveloped in the mystery of silence because of a grave psychological disturbance, are never alone, in as much as they are passionately loved by God.’