Cari pellegrini di Fatima!
Desidero ora rivolgere un particolare saluto ai numerosi malati qui presenti. Con esso intendo anche abbracciare quanti, sia nelle loro case che negli ospedali, ci accompagnano spiritualmente.
Il Papa vi saluta con vivo affetto, carissimi malati, assicurando un speciale ricordo nella preghiera per voi e per le persone che vi stanno accanto. Porto i desideri e le richieste di ciascuno presso l'Altare in cui Gesù incessantemente intercede e si sacrifica per l'umanità.
Sono venuto oggi in mezzo a voi come testimone di Gesù risorto. Lui sa che cosa è il patire; ha vissuto le angosce della morte; con la sua morte, però, ha ucciso la stessa morte, essendo Lui il primo umano, in assoluto, che si è liberato definitivamente dalle sue catene. Egli ha compiuto tutto l'itinerario dell'uomo fino alla patria del Cielo, dove ha preparato un trono di gloria per ognuno di noi.
Carissimo fratello malato!
Se qualcuno o qualsiasi cosa ti facesse pensare di essere al capo linea, non lo credere! Se conosci l'eterno Amore che ti ha creato, sai anche che c'è dentro di te un'anima immortale. Ci sono diverse stagioni nella vita; se per caso tu sentissi arrivare l'inverno, voglio che tu sappia che questa non è l'ultima stagione, perché l'ultima sarà la primavera: la primavera della risurrezione. La totalità della tua vita si estende infinitamente oltre i suoi confini terrestri: è previsto il Cielo.
Carissimi malati! Io so che "le sofferenze del momento presente non sono paragonabili alla gloria futura che dovrà essere rivelata in voi" (Rom 8, 18). Coraggio! In quest'Anno Santo, si riserva l’abbondanza della grazia del Padre su chi sa accoglierla con l’animo semplice e fiducioso del bambino. Gesù ce lo ha ripetuto nel brano evangelico proclamato poc’anzi. Tra questi "piccoli" sappiate porvi anche voi cari ammalati, affinché Gesù possa compiacersi in voi. Tra poco, Egli Si avvicinerà a voi per benedirvi di persona nel Santissimo Sacramento. Egli viene a voi con la promessa: "Ecco, Io faccio nuove tutte le cose" (Ap 21, 5).
Abbiate fiducia! Abbandonatevi nelle sue provvide mani, come hanno fatto i pastorelli Francesco e Giacinta.
Essi vi dicono che non siete soli. Il Padre celeste vi ama.
(Giovanni Paolo II)
Dal saluto del Papa agli ammalati – Fatima, 13.5.2000
I would now like to offer a special greeting to the sick, who are present here in large numbers, but I also extend it to all who, at home or in hospital, have joined us in spirit.
The Pope greets you with great affection, dear sick people, and assures you and those who are close to you of a special remembrance in prayer. I place the longings of each of you on the altar where Jesus continuously intercedes and sacrifices himself for humanity.
I have come among you today as a witness to the risen Jesus. He knows what it is to suffer; he experienced the anguish of death, but by his death he destroyed death itself and is absolutely the first human being to have freed himself from its chains once and for all. He traveled man's whole journey to the heavenly homeland, where he has prepared a throne of glory for each of us.
Dear sick brother or sister!
If someone or something makes you think that you have reached the end of the line, do not believe it! If you know the eternal Love who created you, you also know that there is an immortal soul within you. There are various seasons in life; if by chance you feel winter approaching, I want you to know that it is not the last season, because the last one will be spring: the springtime of the Resurrection. Your whole life extends infinitely beyond its earthly limits: heaven awaits you.
Dear sick people!
I know that "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom 8: 18). Take courage! In this Holy Year an abundance of the Father's grace is poured out on those who know how to receive it with the simple, trusting heart of a child. Jesus reminded us of this in the Gospel passage proclaimed earlier. Seek also to be numbered among these "little ones", dear sick people, so that Jesus will delight in you. In a little while he will draw near you to bless you personally in the Blessed Sacrament. He comes to you with the promise: "Behold, I make all things new" (Rv 21: 5). Have trust! Abandon yourselves to his provident hands, as did the little shepherds Francisco and Jacinta. They are telling you that you are not alone. The heavenly Father loves you.
Saturday, 13 May 2000
Dear Pilgrims to Fátima! I would now like to offer a special greeting to the sick, who are present here in large numbers, but I also extend it to all who, at home or in hospital, have joined us in spirit.
The Pope greets you with great affection, dear sick people, and assures you and those who are close to you of a special remembrance in prayer. I place the longings of each of you on the altar where Jesus continuously intercedes and sacrifices himself for humanity.
I have come among you today as a witness to the risen Jesus. He knows what it is to suffer; he experienced the anguish of death, but by his death he destroyed death itself and is absolutely the first human being to have freed himself from its chains once and for all. He traveled man's whole journey to the heavenly homeland, where he has prepared a throne of glory for each of us.
Dear sick brother or sister!
If someone or something makes you think that you have reached the end of the line, do not believe it! If you know the eternal Love who created you, you also know that there is an immortal soul within you. There are various seasons in life; if by chance you feel winter approaching, I want you to know that it is not the last season, because the last one will be spring: the springtime of the Resurrection. Your whole life extends infinitely beyond its earthly limits: heaven awaits you.
Dear sick people!
I know that "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom 8: 18). Take courage! In this Holy Year an abundance of the Father's grace is poured out on those who know how to receive it with the simple, trusting heart of a child. Jesus reminded us of this in the Gospel passage proclaimed earlier. Seek also to be numbered among these "little ones", dear sick people, so that Jesus will delight in you. In a little while he will draw near you to bless you personally in the Blessed Sacrament. He comes to you with the promise: "Behold, I make all things new" (Rv 21: 5). Have trust! Abandon yourselves to his provident hands, as did the little shepherds Francisco and Jacinta. They are telling you that you are not alone. The heavenly Father loves you.
