Pope Francis on Saturday blasted the
"marginalization" of the sick during an audience with the
Italian Association against Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma
(AIL).
"Illness often plunges the person and their family into the
darkness of pain and anguish, giving rise to solitude and
closure," the Argentine pontiff said.
"At the social level, it is often perceived as a defeat,
something to conceal, eliminate; the sick are rejected in the
name of efficiency and strength, suffering is marginalized
because it causes fear and hinders plans.
"Instead, it is urgent to place the sick person with his or her
history and relationships - family, friendship, and therapeutic
ones - in order to find meaning in pain and give answers to the
many 'whys'.
"Even when all seems lost, it is possible to hope. But it takes
someone to bring a little light, a flame of hope, with
friendship, closeness and listening".
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