(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 16.10.2024).- On Wednesday morning, October 16, on the occasion of the National Congress of the Italian Society of Surgery, Pope Francis received in audience the Congress’ participants.
Following is ZENIT’s translation into English of the Pope’s address in Italian. In the course of his address, the Holy Father answered the question posed in the title.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning.
I am pleased to meet with you on the occasion of the 126th National Congress of the Italian Society of Surgery, entitled “The Future of the Surgeon – The Surgeon of the Future,” being held here in Rome. I warmly greet the Society’s President, the Members of the Council, and all of you.
Whoever speaks of the future, speaks of hope, of a plan and of commitment. You have developed a beautiful theme. And, in this sense, your work is beautiful for man, who is a beautiful and fragile creature, a creature avid for life and for a future and, at the same time, so vulnerable. Hence, it is important that your style is always human and professional, that of someone who is concerned for the one suffering, so that first of all, you take it seriously, combining competence and deontology in all your interventions, according to the culture of health, which is a service to the person in his integrity. Think of a surgeon’s future from a culture of dedication to a brother, especially if he is poor and marginalized. It is always about a man that lives and dies, that suffers and is cured, not just his organs and tissues.
On the contrary, the risk exists, including for doctors, of losing their vocation, placing themselves outside that therapeutic alliance, which puts the sick or the wounded at the center. Modern medicine, in fact, tends sometimes to focus a lot on man’s physical dimension, instead of considering him in his totality and singularity. Thus, the body becomes a naked object of scientific research and technical manipulation, in detriment of the patient, who becomes secondary. On the contrary, science is for man, not man for science! – a human science.
Today, when surgery makes use of many new technologies, including artificial intelligence, it should never be forgotten that nothing can ever be done without the surgeon’s “hand.” Surgery means “work made with the hand,” “operation of the hand.” And that’s exactly what it is: to cure, surgeons must wound, cut. So, when you have in your hands the body of a man, created in the image of God, act as “artisans of health,” operating on others with the same care with which you would like to be treated. Reflect on these gestures that, as professionals, you will put into practice, together, as a team with your cooperators, and don’t be afraid to promote, especially among the young, human, scientific, technological and psychological formation: from whence will issue the best characteristics of the future surgeons.
Your work and your mission will always be very important: hence, I invite you to be guardians of the life of those that suffer, guardians of the life of those that suffer. Although one might not be able to cure a person, one can always take care of him, so that he never feels he is rejected.
And in this connection, dear surgeons, I would like to conclude giving you an icon that might inspire the future of your profession: the Icon of Jesus, Doctor of souls and bodies, namely, of the whole man, narrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan (cf. Luke 10:30-37). In it, the one who takes care sees, and stops without haste, pities the one he meets, approaches him and bandages his wounds. He sees, pities, makes himself close and bandages his wounds. It is these attitudes that I recommend to you: look with love, have compassion, make yourself close and take care. This is how a good doctor becomes a neighbour to his patient.
Thank you for all that you do, including with so much sacrifice. I encourage you to dedicate yourselves passionately to suffering humanity, of which we all form part.
May Mary, Health of the Sick, accompany your service, comforting you in the fatigue of work and of research. I bless each one of you, your families and all health agents that collaborate with your Society. And, please, do not forget to pray for me, but pray for . . . Thank you!
