On his second full day in Mexico, Pope Francis stopped at a pediatric hospital this evening, where he highlighted the importance of “kindness therapy.”
The Pope gave a brief address to the children before visiting various rooms of the hospital and blessing dozens of patients and their caregivers, even giving one child a dropper full of medicine brought by his nurse.
Drawing from the Gospel account of Jesus’ presentation in the temple, the Holy Father encouraged the children to learn how to bless those who care for them.
“Simeon is ‘the uncle’ who teaches us these two attitudes: gratitude and then blessing,” he said. “Here, I bless you, the doctors bless you […] But you, children, also have to learn to bless the others. And ask Jesus to take care of them because they take care of you.”
The Pontiff also expressed gratitude to the families and caregivers who practice “kindness-therapy,” saying that the medicines and medical care the patients receive is important, but so is kindness and tenderness.
“It is very important that we feel cared for and accompanied, to feel loved and to know that all these workers here are looking for the best way to care for us,” he said.
“May God bless each person… not only doctors but also those who provide ‘kindness-therapy’ thus making the time spent here more enjoyable. The kindness-therapy is so important, so important. Sometimes a caress helps so much to get better.”
The Holy Father concluded by asking the children if they knew about Juan Diego, the saint to whom Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared.
“The Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to him and said, ‘Let not your heart be disturbed or upset by anything. Am I not here with you, I who am your mother?’”
At the Pope’s request, the children closed their eyes and spent a few seconds in prayer, and then prayed together the Hail Mary.
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Full text: https://zenit.org/articles/popes-address-at-pediatric-hospital/
