Today, the Vatican Press Centre released a Message which was prepared by the President of the Pontifical Council for Health Workers (for the Pastoral Care of Health Workers), His Excellency, Zygmunt Zimowski, on the occasion of the IX World Day of Rare Diseases, which is being celebrated on February 29, entitled: At the centre of the patient's voice. Join us to make the voice of rare diseases heard.
Dear brothers and sisters,
For some years, the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (for the Pastoral Care of Health Workers) has been following attentively various initiatives in favour of those who are affected by rare diseases, as well as their family members who, through their kindness are at times the only ones who give voice to a problem that cannot be refuted by various civic, scientific and pastoral institutions.
The current worldwide initiative, which attempts to give proper emphasis to these diseases and to increase knowledge about them, has also found growing interest in the Church, in order that those who are suffering from diseases, even though their incidence is minimal or rare not be abandoned or isolated, and certainly that they should not leave us indifferent. Indeed, their condition, as was indicated by the theme chosen for IX Day of Rare Diseases - At the centre of the patient's voice. Join us to make the voice of rare diseases heard - cannot fail to find an echo in our hearts and in appropriate research and care.
In particular, it is a matter of making these persons increasingly protagonists, equipped with the necessary points of reference; and at the same time increasing the awareness of this issue among competent authorities, health professionals, researchers, the pharmaceutical industry and anyone else who has a sincere interest in rare diseases ... all in order to tear open the curtain of silence or of exclusivity that is likely in many cases to hide a problem that is rather a concern for all of society.
The Church is also motivated to deeper commitment, continually spurred on by Pope Francis to grow and to walk in solidarity.
Solidarity involves the sharing of situations with one another, whoever they may be, to feel that we are participating in their suffering, involved in the design and implementation of effective supporting action, always from a perspective of inclusion. Therefore, the ethic of solidarity cannot be reduced to a mere list of essential functions for social institutions, nor does it pertain only to those involved in certain professions. The other is someone who challenges us by the mere fact that he or she is a person and finds him- or herself in need. This is what Jesus wanted to teach through the parable of the Good Samaritan (cf Lk 10:25-37).
Charity, which begins with an interior attitude of com-passion and which translates into concrete gestures and commitments of closeness and care, is able to confer fullness of meaning on human relationships. Solidarity therefore assumes the form of sharing: being with, and of devotion: being for.
In this way, attentive listening to the voice of patients with rare diseases also constitutes a first approach to building, sometimes with difficulty, the common good as a sign of solidarity that is able to accept questions and human aspirations and make them our own, especially those which are rarely considered.
In hindsight, it is a complex problem, that cannot be faced if not in a broader context in which we are placed, along with our respective responsibilities, different and complementary professional and institutional figures.
By means of this Discastery, the Church, taking up the voice that from many places is raised in order to bring about the common good and justice in the socio-health field, desires to bring to the attention of this sector and to various institutions of scientific research, its pastoral actions in the field of rare and neglected diseases, defined as diseases that particularly invite us to solidarity. This ecclesial action will have a specific expression in the upcoming International Conference, organized by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, which will take place at the Vatican from November 10 to 12, 2016. This initiative which will take place almost at the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, will be a further opportunity to promote the corporal work of mercy of assisting the sick. It will take place under the sign of solidarity with and closeness to persons affected by rare pathologies, as well as those faced by poor and vulnerable populations marked by neglected diseases who usually live in rural areas, among the most remote in all the world.
With this Message, we wish to express our closeness to all of our brothers and sisters who are marked by fatigue and suffering due to rare diseases. I entrust this World Day to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick. May every request born in the heart of those who suffer find listening and caring solidarity in all believers and in every person of good will. Renewed and sustained by the One who is the incarnation of the Father's Mercy, many others will themselves become workers of mercy and peace.
Message of His Excellency, Zygmunt Zimowski
for the IX World Day of Rare Diseases
Dear brothers and sisters,
For some years, the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (for the Pastoral Care of Health Workers) has been following attentively various initiatives in favour of those who are affected by rare diseases, as well as their family members who, through their kindness are at times the only ones who give voice to a problem that cannot be refuted by various civic, scientific and pastoral institutions.
The current worldwide initiative, which attempts to give proper emphasis to these diseases and to increase knowledge about them, has also found growing interest in the Church, in order that those who are suffering from diseases, even though their incidence is minimal or rare not be abandoned or isolated, and certainly that they should not leave us indifferent. Indeed, their condition, as was indicated by the theme chosen for IX Day of Rare Diseases - At the centre of the patient's voice. Join us to make the voice of rare diseases heard - cannot fail to find an echo in our hearts and in appropriate research and care.
The Church is also motivated to deeper commitment, continually spurred on by Pope Francis to grow and to walk in solidarity.
Solidarity involves the sharing of situations with one another, whoever they may be, to feel that we are participating in their suffering, involved in the design and implementation of effective supporting action, always from a perspective of inclusion. Therefore, the ethic of solidarity cannot be reduced to a mere list of essential functions for social institutions, nor does it pertain only to those involved in certain professions. The other is someone who challenges us by the mere fact that he or she is a person and finds him- or herself in need. This is what Jesus wanted to teach through the parable of the Good Samaritan (cf Lk 10:25-37).
Charity, which begins with an interior attitude of com-passion and which translates into concrete gestures and commitments of closeness and care, is able to confer fullness of meaning on human relationships. Solidarity therefore assumes the form of sharing: being with, and of devotion: being for.
In this way, attentive listening to the voice of patients with rare diseases also constitutes a first approach to building, sometimes with difficulty, the common good as a sign of solidarity that is able to accept questions and human aspirations and make them our own, especially those which are rarely considered.
In hindsight, it is a complex problem, that cannot be faced if not in a broader context in which we are placed, along with our respective responsibilities, different and complementary professional and institutional figures.
By means of this Discastery, the Church, taking up the voice that from many places is raised in order to bring about the common good and justice in the socio-health field, desires to bring to the attention of this sector and to various institutions of scientific research, its pastoral actions in the field of rare and neglected diseases, defined as diseases that particularly invite us to solidarity. This ecclesial action will have a specific expression in the upcoming International Conference, organized by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, which will take place at the Vatican from November 10 to 12, 2016. This initiative which will take place almost at the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, will be a further opportunity to promote the corporal work of mercy of assisting the sick. It will take place under the sign of solidarity with and closeness to persons affected by rare pathologies, as well as those faced by poor and vulnerable populations marked by neglected diseases who usually live in rural areas, among the most remote in all the world.
With this Message, we wish to express our closeness to all of our brothers and sisters who are marked by fatigue and suffering due to rare diseases. I entrust this World Day to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick. May every request born in the heart of those who suffer find listening and caring solidarity in all believers and in every person of good will. Renewed and sustained by the One who is the incarnation of the Father's Mercy, many others will themselves become workers of mercy and peace.
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