Acta Benedicti Pp. XVI 37

NUNTII

I

Occasione XV Diei Internationalis Infirmis dicati.*

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On 11 February 2007, when the Church keeps the liturgical memorial of

Our Lady of Lourdes, the Fifteenth World Day of the Sick will be celebrated

in Seoul, Korea. A number of meetings, conferences, pastoral gatherings and

liturgical celebrations will take place with representatives of the Church in

Korea, health care personnel, the sick and their families. Once again the

Church turns her eyes to those who suffer and calls attention to the incurably

ill, many of whom are dying from terminal diseases. They are found on every

continent, particularly in places where poverty and hardship cause immense

misery and grief. Conscious of these sufferings, I will be spiritually present at

the World Day of the Sick, united with those meeting to discuss the plight of

the incurably ill in our world and encouraging the efforts of Christian com-

munities in their witness to the Lord's tenderness and mercy.

Sickness inevitably brings with it a moment of crisis and sober confrontation

with one's own personal situation. Advances in the health sciences often provide

the means necessary to meet this challenge, at least with regard to its physical

aspects. Human life, however, has intrinsic limitations, and sooner or later it

ends in death. This is an experience to which each human being is called, and one

for which he or she must be prepared. Despite the advances of science, a cure

cannot be found for every illness, and thus, in hospitals, hospices and homes

throughout the world we encounter the sufferings of our many brothers and

sisters who are incurably and often terminally ill. In addition, many millions of

people in our world still experience insanitary living conditions and lack access

to much-needed medical resources, often of the most basic kind, with the result

that the number of human beings considered « incurable » is greatly increased.

The Church wishes to support the incurably and terminally ill by calling for

just social policies which can help to eliminate the causes of many diseases and

by urging improved care for the dying and those for whom no medical remedy is

available. There is a need to promote policies which create conditions where

human beings can bear even incurable illnesses and death in a dignified manner.

* Die 8 Decembris 2006.