Pope plea for needy
Francis touts help for migrants, abused
During his historic visit to Thailand, His Holiness Pope Francis has used the opportunity to pass on a message to the world to help take care of abused children and women as well as refugees around the world while highlighting inter-religious cooperation to create peace.
Pope Francis expressed concerns over the plight of those suffering from mistreatment during the Holy Mass at the Supachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok yesterday evening.
Speaking in front of an audience of about 70,000, Pope Francis expressed concern about women and children, who are often victims of prostitution and human trafficking.
“[They are] humiliated in their essential human dignity. I think of young people enslaved by drug addiction and a lack of meaning which makes them depressed and destroys their dreams,” he said.
Pope Francis added that his concerns include migrants without homes and families who feel abandoned as well as exploited fishermen and beggars. “Let us not deprive our communities of seeing their faces, their wounds, their smiles and their lives. Let us not prevent them from experiencing the merciful balm of God’s love that heals their wounds and pains,” he said. Pope Francis called on the Christian community in Thailand to help them.
Besides women and children’s issues, Pope Francis also expressed concerns for immigrants during a meeting with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, diplomats and religious leaders.
“The crisis of migration cannot be ignored. Thailand itself, known for the welcome it has given to migrants and refugees, has experienced this crisis as a result of the tragic flight of refugees from neighbouring countries. Once more, I hope that the international community will act with responsibility and foresight, that it will work to resolve the issues that have led to this tragic exodus, and that it will promote safe, orderly and regulated migration,” he said to Gen Prayut as well as other political and religious leaders present.
“May every nation devise effective means for protecting the dignity and rights of migrants and refugees, who face danger, uncertainty and exploitation in their quest for freedom and a decent life for their families. It is not just about migrants; it is also about the face we want to give to our societies,” he said.
Gen Prayut highlighted the auspicious occasion by saying that the Pope’s visit coincides with both the 350th anniversary of the establishment of the Catholic Mission in Thailand and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between Thailand and the Holy See.
The last pope to visit Thailand was
Pope Saint John Paul II, who visited the country over four decades ago in 1984. Currently, the country’s 388,000strong Catholic community makes up less than 1% of the population. Most of the country’s Catholics live in the North and Central regions.
The premier also said that Thailand has been working to promote basic human rights, especially with regards to guaranteeing religious rights and freedoms, and sustainable development.
The Pope also met the Supreme Patriarch at Wat Ratchabophit, and also visited St Louis Hospital, a Catholic hospital in Bangkok. Later he had a private audience with His Majesty the King before a public Mass at Bangkok’s National Stadium.
During his meeting with the Supreme Patriarch, both spiritual leaders expressed appreciation of the friendship between the two religions as well as the promotion of harmony and cooperation to help the underprivileged.
More than 70,000 Catholics nationwide gathered at the National Stadium and Thephasdin Stadium to hear Pope Francis say mass on his three-day apostolic trip to Thailand. The crowd had waited patiently and stretched into the distance from the early hours.
Many people wore pope-emblazoned white and yellow caps — the colours of the Vatican — and they waved Vatican flags and shouted “Viva Il Papa” as the pope-mobile made its way around both stadiums.
Pope Francis made time in his busy schedule to visit patients at Bangkok’s St Louis Hospital, which is marking its 120th anniversary.
The hospital was founded in 1898 by the thenapostolic vicar of Siam, Archbishop Louis Vey, and has since followed the motto — “where charity is true, there is God”. The institution is now equipped with state-of-the-art medical apparatus and is run by skilled doctors, nurses and researchers.
Addressing close to 700 hospital staff members yesterday, Pope Francis said it was a blessing for him “to witness, first hand, this valuable service that the Church offers to the Thai people, especially to those most in need”.
UBI CARITAS EST VERA, DEUS IBI EST
Referring to the hospital’s motto, His Holiness said: “It is precisely in the exercise of charity that we Christians are called, not only to demonstrate that we are missionary disciples, but also to test our own fidelity, and that of our institutions, to that discipleship”.
“You are missionary disciples in the field of healthcare, who are capable of finding God in every human being, especially the elderly, the young and those most vulnerable,” the Pontiff said.
“Seen in this way, you carry out one of the greatest works of mercy, for your commitment to healthcare goes far beyond the simple and praiseworthy practice of medicine.”
EMBRACING HUMAN LIFE
“It is about welcoming and embracing human life as it arrives at the hospital’s emergency room, needing to be treated with the merciful care born of love and respect for the dignity of each human person,” he said.
“The healing process should rightly be seen as a powerful anointing, capable of restoring human dignity in every situation, a gaze that grants dignity and provides support.”
During his address, the Pope noted how at times the work of hospital staff “can prove burdensome and tiring”. However, he added, “this speaks to us of the need for a healthcare ministry in which not only patients, but every member of this community can feel cared for and supported in his or her mission.”
JESUS IS CLOSE TO US IN OUR FRAILTY
“Each of us knows how illness brings with it questions that dig deep,” emphasised Pope Francis. “Our first reaction may be to rebel and even experience moments of bewilderment and desolation.”
But, “by uniting ourselves to Jesus in His passion, we discover the power of His closeness to our frailty and our wounds”, the Pope emphasised.
At the end of his meeting with staff, Pope Francis made a private visit to the sick and disabled at the hospital, as a way, he said, “of accompanying them, however briefly, in their pain”.
The Pope also presented the hospital with a copy of a fragment of a fresco at the Vatican depicting the Madonna and Child.
At the hospital, patient Kamolwan In-aram rejoiced at the chance of touching Pope Francis’ hand, adding that her blindness did not stop her from feeling his kindness. “I’ll remember this day until I die,” she said.
Sister Somsri Kitwithak, 81, said she was determined to make a speedy recovery from her ankle injury, just so she could greet the Pope.
“I mustered up the courage to yell ‘ti amo’ [Italian for I love you]. The Pope heard it and came over to touch my hand. It’s truly an indescribable honour,” she said.
The Pope also moved around the hospital grounds in his popemobile and even stopped at one point in order to kiss a newborn baby brought to him by hospital staff.
After blessing and boosting the morale of 40 patients and medical staff at St Louis Hospital, His Holiness left the building to greet a crowd outside waving flags, and cheering “Viva Papa!”