Below is a ZENIT translation of Pope Francis’ Angelus address today at the end of the Holy Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Square on the occasion of the Jubilee for the Sick and Disabled. Before reciting the midday prayer, the Pope said the following words:
***
Before the Angelus:
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Yesterday, in Vercelli, the priest Giacomo Abbondo, who lived in the eighteenth century, was beatified. He was in love with God, educated, and always available for his parishioners. We share the joy and thanksgiving of the Diocese of Vercelli. And also that of Diocese of Monreale, where today Sister Carolina Santocanale, founder of the Capuchin Sisters of the Immaculate of Lourdes, was beatified. Born into a noble family in Palermo, she gave up her comforts and became poor among the poor. By Christ, especially in the Eucharist, she drew the strength for her spiritual motherhood and her tenderness with the weakest.
In the context of the Jubilee for the Sick, in recent days, an international conference dedicated to caring for those suffering from Hansen’s Disease took place in Rome. With gratitude, I greet the organizers and participants and hope for a fruitful commitment in the struggle against this disease.
Today is the World Day Against Child Labour. Altogether, let’s renew our efforts to remove the causes of this modern slavery, depriving millions of children of certain fundamental rights and exposing them to serious dangers. In the world today there are so many child slaves!
I affectionately greet all the pilgrims who came from Italy and various countries for this Jubilee Day. I especially thank you who have wanted to be present in your state of illness or disability. My heartfelt thanks also go to doctors and health professionals who, in the «Health points» set up at the four papal basilicas, are offering specialized visits to hundreds of people living on the peripheries of the city of Rome. Many thanks to you!
May the Virgin Mary, to whom we now turn in prayer, always accompany us along our way.
Angelus Domini …
[Original text: Italian]
[Translation by Deborah Castellano Lubov]
