Healing the Wounds of the World: Pope’s Vision for a Church on the Frontlines
- On the occasion of the Third Congress of the Church of the Field Hospital, Pope Francis received the participants and thanked them for their work in helping the...
- The Pope commended them for their work in supporting the poor and vulnerable within the Church, especially in three areas of mission: proclaiming Christ, repairing inequalities, and spreading...
- The Pope stressed the importance of caring for children, the elderly, those suffering, or those fleeing war.
Pope Francis Urges Church to be a ‘Field Hospital’ for the Poor and Marginalized
On the occasion of the Third Congress of the Church of the Field Hospital, Pope Francis received the participants and thanked them for their work in helping the poor and marginalized.
The Pope commended them for their work in supporting the poor and vulnerable within the Church, especially in three areas of mission: proclaiming Christ, repairing inequalities, and spreading hope.
Proclaiming Christ
The Pope stressed the importance of caring for children, the elderly, those suffering, or those fleeing war. He noted that Ukrainian children who have gone through many hardships have lost the ability to laugh.
He encouraged the participants to continue to see the face of Christ in these vulnerable people. “The Christ whom you proclaim is the One who always walked with them, because He first gave up everything and became poor.”
Repairing Inequality
The Pope praised their commitment to “repairing inequality”. “Through your apostolate, you denounce to society that the disparity between rich and poor is not what God wants and must be justly resolved”.
He pointed out that only by addressing these inequalities can the fabric of society be restored. “No one can turn a blind eye to the suffering of others.”
Spreading Hope
The Pope concluded by exhorting those present to spread the seeds of hope “for everyone they welcome”, whether they are homeless or refugees, members of vulnerable groups or victims of war, or for other reasons.
“Although the seemingly ‘desperate’ situation weighs heavily on our brothers and sisters,” the Pope reminded, “Christian hope is greater than any situation, because it is based on God and not on man.”
The Church of the Field Hospital conference originated in Spain and aims to respond to the call of the Holy Father to be a church like a “field hospital” to help the suffering and marginalized people through mercy and charity.
The participants testified to the acceptance of brothers and sisters and the truth that actions speak louder than words.