L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO

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FORTIETH YEAR
UNICUIQUE SUUM NON PRAEVALEBUNT
N. 7 (1981) - 14 February 2007
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ANGELUS, SUNDAY, 11 FEBRUARY: 15TH WORLD DAY OF THE SICK

Uniting our sufferings to those of Christ Crucified

On Sunday, 11 February, prior to
leading the Angelus with those gath-
ered in St Peter's Square, the Holy
Father reflected on the Feast of Our
Lady of Lourdes, which also marked
the 15th World Day of the Sick. The
following is a translation of the Pope's
Reflection, given in Italian.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, the Church recalls the first ap-
parition of the Virgin Mary to St Bern-
adette, which took place on 11 February
1858 in the grotto of Massabielle, near
Lourdes. It was a miraculous event
which made that town, located in the
French Pyrenees, a world centre of
pilgrimages and intense Marian spiritu-
ality.
In that place, now almost 150 years
ago, the Blessed Mother's call to prayer
and penance resounds strongly, almost
as a permanent echo of Jesus' invitation
which inaugurated his preaching in
Galilee: “The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and
believe in the Gospel” (Mk 1:15).
Moreover, that Shrine has become
the goal of numerous sick pilgrims who
are encouraged by listening to Mary
Most Holy to accept their sufferings and
offer them for the world's salvation,
uniting them to those of Christ Cruci-
fied.
Precisely because of the bond that ex-
ists between Lourdes and suffering hu-
manity, 15 years ago our beloved John
The Holy Father blesses a young participant in the Mass at
Paul II willed that, on the occasion of
the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the
St Peter's Basilica for the 15th World Day of the Sick on
World Day of the Sick would also be Sunday, 11 February. The international celebration was held
celebrated.
This year the heart of this celebration in Seoul, South Korea. For more on the events, see page 3.
is in the city of Seoul, South Korea,
where I sent as my representative Cardi-
nal Javier Lozano Barragán, President graver illnesses and pain: to them, our Holy Mass, I will have the joy, as last and visitors I extend a warm welcome.
of the Pontifical Council for Health Pas- attention is dedicated in a special way year, to spend some time with them, re- In a special way I greet the music direc-
toral Care. I address a cordial greeting on this Day. living the spiritual climate that I experi- tors from the United States representing
to him and to all those gathered there. I It is necessary to maintain the devel- enced at the Grotto of Massabielle. the National Association of Pastoral Mu-
would like to extend a greeting to the opment of palliative care that offers an I would now like to entrust to the sicians. In the Beatitudes which we hear
health-care workers of the entire world, integral assistance and furnishes the in- maternal protection of the Immaculate in today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us the
knowing well of their important service curably ill with that human support and Virgin, with the prayer of the Angelus, way to true happiness. May your time
to the sick persons in our society. spiritual guide they greatly need. the sick and suffering in body and spirit in Rome make you hunger and thirst
Above all, I would like to express my This afternoon, in St Peter's Basilica, of the entire world. more deeply for his justice and peace.
spiritual closeness and affection to our many sick will gather around Cardinal After the Angelus the Pope said: Upon all of you, I invoke the abundant
sick brothers and sisters, with a particu- Camillo Ruini, who will preside at the Blessings of Almighty God.
lar remembrance for those struck by Eucharistic celebration. At the end of To all the English-speaking pilgrims I wish everyone a good Sunday!

Salesian€Cardinal€dies PAGE€2
MESSAGE
FOR THE 22ND
WORLD YOUTH DAY: World€Day€of€the€Sick PAGE€3

PALM SUNDAY,
1 APRIL 2007 New€ambassador:€Romania PAGE€4

Pope€to€Secular€Institutes PAGE€5

Card.€Barragán€on€leprosy PAGE€8

Brothers€of€Charity's€‘200th’ PAGE€9

New€ambassador:€Turkey PAGE€10

‘Just as I have At the GENERAL AUDIENCE on Wednesday, 7

February, in the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall,
loved you, the Holy Father continued his Catecheses on the
you also should Apostles of the Church. This week, he focused on the
married couple Priscilla and Aquila, who played an
love one another’ active part in the early Church and became ‘models
of conjugal life responsibly committed to the service
PAGES €6/7 of the entire Christian community’.
PAGE 11