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Herald Malaysia
29-04-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
People with disabilities rejoice during Rome jubilee
They find strength, hope, and belonging in a global church that embraces their gifts and joys Apr 29, 2025 File photo of Archbishop Rino Fisichella. (Photo: Vatican News) By Paulina Guzik, Catholic News Service In a mix of joy, excitement and sadness, families, associations and individuals from all over the world celebrated the Jubilee of People with Disabilities with Mass April 28 in Rome's Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Joy reverberated inside the basilica. Sadness was felt too, because instead of meeting the pope in person, the people with disabilities who flocked to Rome had to say goodbye to the pontiff who reached out to those often excluded from society. Giusi, from Sicily, mother of Sofia and Andrea Joel, a boy with autism, and wife of Maurizio, told OSV News they booked the trip months ago and that it was a "very special moment intertwined with the papal funeral." There was "a lot of emotion, a lot of joy, a lot of sadness, too, because we lost our pontiff, but we have hope and faith for the new one to lead the faithful," said Giusi, who only gave her first name. "Celebrating the Jubilee, we're just grateful for the life of our son, because of course there are a million challenges for our family, but we find strength to come forward,' she said. 'We're really happy with this pilgrimage -- we're tired but it's beautiful." Grace Arnold, who is 19, came with her mom, Patricia, from Kansas City. "I'm really excited about this pilgrimage," she said. "I wanted to know more about the church. To be here with mom, to be bonding with her, it's amazing," she said. Grace, who has Down syndrome, said that going through the Holy Door at St. Paul Outside the Walls was "very cool" and while it was a "little sad initially" for her to hear that Pope Francis died, she is "really excited now that we can be praying for the new one." "I wanted for my daughter to have a sense of the global church, and to understand that she's not alone," Grace's mother, Patricia, told OSV News. "The Christian community first prays," said Archbishop Rino Fisichella, organizer of the Jubilee 2025 events and pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization under Pope Francis. Prayer "is our salvation," he told the packed basilica. The first prayer, Archbishop Fisichella said, is to "ask the Lord for the courage not to remain silent, the courage to always proclaim that Christ is risen." Speaking to many people with disabilities who came with their caregivers, Archbishop Fisichella said: "Let us remember that we always have a community to refer to, our little church." For Irene Verzeletti from Brescia, near Milan in northern Italy, this sense of community is really important. She is part of the apostolate of blind people, and she said the association keeps reminding society that "blind people -- we can work, we can do things, we can graduate, we can study, we can do all that people that see can do." The 48-year-old is an accountant at the University of Brescia. The Jubilee for her is important, because "we are here to pray together," and remember that "the person we have around can be a real friend. And not only people who take care of us. Everyone can exchange their gifts like it is written in the Gospel, I can give you my talent, and you can give me yours," Verzeletti said. American Catholic journalist JD Flynn, who was with his wife, said several months ago they 'felt sort of a call to come to the Jubilee for People with Disabilities." Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, they brought four other families "from all over the US" to Rome and, who -- like the Flynn's -- have children with Down syndrome. "It's been a gift to come together and pray together. I think it was a gift to be at this Mass," Flynn said. "People with disabilities don't always experience that. Sometimes they experience the church as their home. But as often as not, they experience marginalization in the church or isolation in the church, not necessarily by malice, but just a failure to appreciate the kinds of accommodations that they need," Flynn, father of three, told OSV News. "Pope Francis said a few years ago: 'The church is your home.' It was a call for all of us Catholics, to exercise the Lord's preferential love for the poor -- by exercising the Lord's preferential love for people with disabilities,' he said. 'And it's been beautiful to see that play out in the life of the church over the past couple of years. It's been beautiful to see that play out in the life of our own family in the past couple years." He added: "It can be hard to be a family of someone with disabilities, and it can be a gift to have the church say: 'We love you and we want to share with you in your joys and sufferings as God says so.'" Tomasz Sitarz from Lodz, Poland, came for the Jubilee with his son, Peter, who is hard of hearing. "My hope is that society understands the needs of the disabled people. Sometimes we don't need certain help, we need true support in our children's needs, because the world is putting obstacles under their feet, and we want the world simply to support us." His fellow Pole Ewa Majewska, who lives in Hamburg, Germany, gave up her holidays to volunteer for the Jubilee. Asked about her experience, she immediately teared up and said: "I can't even tell you how many graces I felt here, and the Jubilee of People with Disabilities is just a highlight of the week, in which I saw the pope for the first time in my life on Easter Sunday and then I said goodbye to him just a day later." Verzeletti was especially excited to go through the Holy Door with her 3-year-old guide dog, Berto. "This door is like magic, because when you pass through this door, you can express your desires, your wishes, you can wish and pray." She said she didn't pray for or wish to see again. "I was born blind, I don't know anything else," she said. "My greatest wish is to find love, a great person to love."--
Saudi Gazette
07-04-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
Pope makes surprise appearance during Mass in St. Peter's Square
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis made a surprise appearance in St. Peter's Square on Sunday morning during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick and healthcare workers. The pontiff, who was rolled into the square on a wheelchair, was making his first public appearance at the Vatican since being released from hospital two weeks earlier. As he made his way to the altar at the square, he waved at the crowd. "Good Sunday to everyone," said the pope. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart." The pope's voice sounded louder and stronger than when he spoke outside Gemelli hospital on 23 March, the day of his release. He had been battling life-threatening pneumonia during a five-week stay there. In an Angelus Sunday prayer written by the pope himself and read out by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the pontiff said: "I pray for doctors, nurses and health care workers, who are not always able to work in adequate conditions and are sometimes even victims of aggression." "Their mission is not easy, and they must be supported and respected. I hope that the necessary resources will be invested in treatment and research, so that health care systems will be inclusive and attentive to the poor and the most fragile." He also thanked the inmates of Rebibbia women's prison, who had sent him a card wishing him a quick recovery. "I pray for them and for their families," he wrote, before wishing for peace in places affected by war, as well as more aid for Myanmar and Haiti. — Euronews
Euronews
07-04-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Pope makes surprise appearance during Mass in St. Peter's Square
ADVERTISEMENT Pope Francis made a surprise appearance in St. Peter's Square on Sunday morning during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick and health care workers. The pontiff, who was rolled into the square on a wheelchair, was making his first public appearance at the Vatican since being released from hospital two weeks earlier. As he made his way to the altar at the square, he waved at the crowd. "Good Sunday to everyone," said the pope. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart." The pope's voice sounded louder and stronger than when he spoke outside Gemelli hospital on 23 March, the day of his release. He had been battling life-threatening pneumonia during a five-week stay there. In an Angelus Sunday prayer written by the pope himself and read out by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the pontiff said: "I pray for doctors, nurses and health care workers, who are not always able to work in adequate conditions and are sometimes even victims of aggression." "Their mission is not easy, and they must be supported and respected. I hope that the necessary resources will be invested in treatment and research, so that health care systems will be inclusive and attentive to the poor and the most fragile." He also thanked the inmates of Rebibbia women's prison, who had sent him a card wishing him a quick recovery. "I pray for them and for their families," he wrote, before wishing for peace in places affected by war, as well as more aid for Myanmar and Haiti.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pope Francis makes surprise appearance, 2 weeks after leaving hospital
The Brief Pope Francis appeared unexpectedly at St. Peter's Square on Sunday for the Jubilee Mass for patients and health workers—just two weeks after a serious bout of pneumonia. Wearing nasal oxygen tubes and his signature white cloak, Pope Francis waved to the crowd as he was wheeled to the front of the altar. The pope told the sick in the crowd that he relates to their struggles, saying, "In this moment of my life I share a lot: the experience of infirmity, feeling weak, depending on others for many things, needing support." NEW YORK - Pope Francis appeared unexpectedly at St. Peter's Square on Sunday for the Jubilee Mass for patients and health workers—just two weeks after a serious bout of pneumonia. Wearing nasal oxygen tubes and his signature white cloak, Pope Francis waved to the crowd as he was wheeled to the front of the altar. "Good Sunday to everyone,'' Francis said, "Thank you very much." As he waved and blessed the crowd, his arm movements were reportedly limited — which his doctor said was not related to his illness but to an unspecified trauma suffered before his Feb. 14 hospitalization. In a homily read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the pope told the sick in the crowd that he relates to their struggles, saying, "In this moment of my life I share a lot: the experience of infirmity, feeling weak, depending on others for many things, needing support." After the Mass, the Pope also greeted some of those who assisted in the service, many who bowed to kiss his hands. What's next Francis has just completed the first two weeks of a doctor-ordered, two-month rest period, during which he's undergoing physical, respiratory, and speech therapy, along with treatment for a lingering lung infection. Linda Elezi, from the Adriatic coastal province of Ancona, said she was touched by the pope's "surprise.'' "We pray for him every day, and he prays for us, and for peace and for all the world, because that is the message of our pilgrimage today: Bring peace to all the world,'' she said.
Los Angeles Times
06-04-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Pope makes surprise appearance at St. Peter's Square, 2 weeks after leaving hospital
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis made a surprise entrance to St. Peter's Square during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick and health workers on Sunday, marking his first public appearance at the Vatican since leaving the hospital two weeks ago after a life-threatening bout with pneumonia. The pontiff waved at the crowd of faithful that stood and applauded as he was pushed in a wheelchair unannounced to the front of the altar in the square. Some exclaimed, 'I see the pope!'' as his image emerged on a big screen showing him passing through the Holy Door before being brought down a ramp to the altar. 'Good Sunday to everyone,'' Francis said, speaking into a microphone, which he tapped to make sure it was working on a second attempt. 'Thank you very much.' The pontiff's voice sounded stronger than when he addressed well-wishers outside Gemelli hospital on the day of his release March 23, after a five-week hospital stay. He wore nasal tubes to receive supplemental oxygen, which the Vatican says is being gradually reduced. As he waved and blessed the crowd, his arm movements remained limited — which his doctor said was not related to his illness but to an unspecified trauma suffered before his Feb. 14 hospitalization. After the Mass, Francis greeted some of those who assisted in the service, many who bowed to kiss his hands. He exited the square through the Holy Door. Francis has just completed two weeks of at least two months of doctor-ordered rest as he continues physical, respiratory and speech therapy, as well as treatment for a lingering lung infection. The pope referred to his experience with illness in both the traditional Sunday blessing and the homily read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, organizer of the Holy Year that is expected to bring some 30 million pilgrims to Rome. Addressing the sick among the crowd, the pope said in the homily read by Fisichella that 'in this moment of my life I share a lot: the experience of infirmity, feeling weak, depending on others for many things, needing support.' 'It is not easy, but it is a school in which we learn every day to love and to let ourselves be loved, without demanding and without rejecting, without regretting, without despairing, grateful to God and to our brothers for the good that we receive, trusting for what is still to come.'' He also urged the faithful not to push the fragile from their lives, 'as unfortunately a certain mentality does today. Let's not ostracize pain from our surroundings. Let's instead make it an opportunity to grow together, to cultivate hope.'' In the traditional Sunday blessing, he offered prayers for doctors, nurses and healthcare workers 'who are not always helped to work in inadequate conditions, at times the victims of aggression. Their mission is not easy and must be supported and respected.'' The faithful were moved by the pope's unexpected appearance. ''It was beautiful, something completely unexpected because I didn't think I would see the pope,'' said Pasquale Citrolo from Trapani, Sicily. 'Instead he gave us this gift.'' Linda Elezi, from the Adriatic coastal province of Ancona, said she was touched by the pope's 'surprise.'' 'We pray for him every day, and he prays for us, and for peace and for all the world, because that is the message of our pilgrimage today: Bring peace to all the world,'' she said. Stellacci and Barry write for the Associated Press. Stellacci reported from Vatican City and Barry from Milan.
