Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his gratitude for those who bring God’s love into the world through their dedicated service to those who are sick.
“I would like to invite you, today, to join me in praising the Lord, who never abandons us and who, in times of sorrow, places people beside us who reflect a ray of his love,” the Holy Father shared in his prepared Sunday Angelus message.
In his message, the Holy Father particularly thanked his medical team and all people who, through their dedicated work, shine the light of God’s infinite life in hospitals and places of care.
“How much loving care illuminates the rooms, the corridors, the clinics, the places where the humblest services are performed!” he said in his March 16 message.
While “showing further, gradual improvements,” the Holy Father still requires hospital care, stated the latest Vatican health update. He was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14.
Conveying his special closeness with those who are sick and fragile, the 88-year-old pontiff said they, too, can be witnesses of God’s love for others.
“I am sharing these thoughts with you while I am facing a period of trial,” the Holy Father said. “Our bodies are weak but, even like this, nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being for each other, in faith, shining signs of hope.”
The pope also shared his gratitude to the many children who are praying for him and his health: “Thank you, dearest children! The pope loves you and is always waiting to meet you.”
At the conclusion of his Angelus message, the Holy Father asked Catholics to pray for peace for countries “wounded by war,” including Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“May the Virgin Mary keep you and help you to be, like her, bearers of Christ’s light and peace,” he said.
The pope also asked people to pray for the synodality assembly to take place in October 2028, which will mark the close of the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality.
“Let us also pray for the Church, required to translate into concrete choices the discernment made in the recent synodal assembly,” the pope said.
“I thank the general secretariat of the synod, which over the coming three years will accompany the local Churches in this undertaking,” he added.
This article was originally published on Catholic News Agency.
