杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

The theme of this year鈥檚 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is observed this 3 December, is 鈥淏uilding Back Better: Toward a Disability-inclusive, Accessible and Sustainable post-COVID-19 World.鈥�

With that in mind, 杏MAP导航 Francis, in a message to mark the occasion, said this World Day afforded him the opportunity to express his closeness to those 鈥渆xperiencing situations of particular difficulty during the crisis caused by the pandemic.鈥�

鈥淎ll of us are in the same boat in the midst of a turbulent sea that can frighten us. Yet in this same boat, some of us are struggling more; among them are persons with serious disabilities,鈥� he said.

Throwaway culture

Focusing on this year鈥檚 theme, the 杏MAP导航 commented that he found the expression 鈥渂uilding back better鈥� quite striking. 

He continued by saying that it made him think of the Gospel parable of the houses built on rock or sand and he took the opportunity to share some reflections based on the parable.

In his message, he spoke of a throwaway culture that is 鈥渨idespread in our time like the rain, the winds and the rivers that threaten the house in the Gospel passage.鈥�

That culture, the 杏MAP导航 noted, 鈥渁ffects especially the most vulnerable, among whom are persons with disabilities.鈥� 

He acknowledged the important steps that have been taken in the last fifty years, both on the civil and ecclesial levels, to promote inclusion of those 鈥渆xperiencing physical and psychological limitations.鈥� 

But on the cultural level, he pointed out, 鈥渕uch still stands in the way of this trend.鈥�

鈥淲e see it in attitudes of rejection, due also to a narcissistic and utilitarian mentality, that give rise to marginalization that ignores the inevitable fact that frailty is part of everyone鈥檚 life,鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis. 

Consequently, the 杏MAP导航 underlined, 鈥渋t is important, on this Day, to promote a culture of life that constantly affirms the dignity of every person and works especially to defend men and women with disabilities, of all ages and social conditions.鈥�

Inclusion

Referring to the current health situation, the 杏MAP导航 said the present pandemic has 鈥渇urther highlighted the disparities and inequalities widespread in our time, particularly to the detriment of the most vulnerable.鈥� 

For this reason, he stressed, 鈥渋nclusion should be the first 鈥榬ock鈥� on which to build our house.鈥�  

鈥淎long the road of life,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥渨e often come across wounded people, and these can include persons with disabilities and particular needs.鈥� Each day we have to decide whether to be Good Samaritans or indifferent bystanders.鈥�

鈥淚nclusion,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 emphasized, should be the 鈥渞ock鈥� on which to build programmes and initiatives of civil and ecclesial institutions 鈥渕eant to ensure that no one, especially those in greatest difficulty, is left behind.鈥�  

Active involvement

In order to help society 鈥渂uild back better,鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渋nclusion of the vulnerable must also entail efforts to promote their active participation.鈥�

鈥淏efore all else,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 underlined, 鈥淚 strongly reaffirm the right of persons with disabilities to receive the sacraments, like all other members of the Church.鈥� No one should be excluded from the grace of these sacraments.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis also highlighted the fact that people with disabilities wish to become active subjects of pastoral ministry, and not simply its recipients. 鈥淥ur concern should be not only to care for them, but also to ensure their 鈥榓ctive participation鈥� in the civil and ecclesial community,鈥� he said.

The 杏MAP导航 added that 鈥渢he active participation of people with disabilities in the work of catechesis can greatly enrich the life of the whole parish.鈥�

Co-operation

Concluding his message, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥淓ven worse than this crisis would be the tragedy of squandering it.鈥�

鈥淔or this reason, I encourage all those who daily and often silently devote themselves to helping others in situations of fragility and disability.鈥�

He expressed the hope that a common desire to 鈥渂uild back better鈥� would give rise 鈥渢o new forms of cooperation between both civil and ecclesial groups and thus build a solid 鈥榟ouse鈥� ready to withstand every storm and capable of welcoming people with disabilities, because built on the rock of inclusion and active participation.鈥�