In Washington, Pope Gathers Witnesses to Christ's Suffering

WASHINGTON — The Vatican's three-day observance of the annual World Day of the Sick was held in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 9-11. Conferences and meetings culminated on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on Feb. 11 with a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Concep tion in Washington. Sick people and their caregivers filled the shrine and the sick received a special anointing.

This 11th annual World Day of the Sick was the first to be held in the United States.

“Through the celebration of this World Day of the Sick, may the Gospel of life and love resound loudly, especially in the Americas, where more than half the world's Catholics live,” Pope John Paul II said in a message sent to the event.

In the following photo story are pictures from the event and excerpts from the Holy Father's message.

Power and Weakness

“A model of society appears to be emerging in which the powerful predominate, setting aside and even eliminating the powerless: I am thinking here of unborn children, helpless victims of abortion; the elderly and incurable ill, subjected at times to euthanasia; and the many other people relegated to the margins of society by consumerism and materialism.”

'Catholic Hospitals…

… should be centers of life and hope which promote — together with chaplaincies — ethics committees, training programs for lay health workers, personal and compassionate care of the sick, attention to the needs of their families and a particular sensitivity to the poor and the marginalized.”

Handmaids of the Lord

“I hope that a fresh flourishing of vocations will enable religious institutes to continue their meritorious work and indeed to expand it with the support of many lay volunteers, for the good of suffering humanity in the Americas.”

Gospel of Suffering

“Dear Brothers and Sisters who suffer in body or spirit, to you I express my heartfelt hope that you will learn to recognize and welcome the Lord who calls you to be witnesses to the Gospel of suffering by looking with trust and love upon the face of Christ crucified and by uniting your sufferings to his.”

Defend Life

“Catholics working in the field of health care have the urgent task of doing all they can to defend life when it is most seriously threatened and to act with a conscience correctly formed according to the teaching of the Church.”

'It is never licit …

… to kill one human being in order to save another.”

Face of Sorrow

“Be aware of your identity and learn to recognize in those who suffer the face of the sorrowful and glorious Lord. Be ready to bring help and hope especially to those afflicted with new diseases, such as AIDS, and with older diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria and leprosy.”

Mary's Basilica

“The choice of place and day invites the faithful to turn their hearts and minds to the Mother of the Lord. … I entrust you all to the Immaculate Virgin, our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas and Health of the Sick. May she hear the prayers that rise from the world of suffering, may she dry the tears of those in pain, may she stand beside those who are alone in their illness and by her motherly intercession may she help believers who work in the field of health care to be credible witnesses to Christ's love.”