杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

Some 5,200 representatives of Italian fishermen and participants in an international conference in Rome on public health systems in Europe gathered on Saturday in the Paul VI Hall for an audience with 杏MAP导航 Francis.

In the first part of his speech the 杏MAP导航 addressed the fishermen accompanied by bishops and leaders of the Apostleship of the Sea in Italy and reflected on the 鈥渧alue鈥� of their profession and the mission that this value entails.

He started by recalling how far back in time the origins of their profession extend, which is also connected to the beginnings of the Church entrusted by Jesus to a fisherman, Peter.

Perseverance in hard work and teamwork

He remembered that in the Gospel texts those who work at sea embody "important attitudes鈥�, including "perseverance in hard work" and dealing with failures. This attitude, the 杏MAP导航 observed, is also required of today鈥檚 fishermen, who face "new pressing problems鈥� like rising costs, stifling bureaucracy, and unfair competition from multinational companies.

In the face of these difficulties, the 杏MAP导航 highlighted the sense of community that unites those who work at sea, where 鈥渢he success of each person鈥檚 work depends on the contribution of everyone. "Fishing, therefore, becomes a "school of life to the extent that Jesus uses it as a symbol to describe the Apostles鈥� vocation鈥� to be 鈥渇ishers of men."

Taking care of those providing care

The 杏MAP导航 went on to note that the ability to work as a team in the face of challenges, is also a quality of health workers. Addressing the participants in the conference on the sustainability of public health systems in Europe, which was held this week at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, he drew attention to two further aspects of their work.

He first of called for healthcare workers not to neglect themselves and 鈥渋nstead, look after one another.鈥� "The fatigue of exhausting shifts, the concerns you carry in your hearts, and the pain you gather from your patients demand comfort and healing," he said.

Compassion for the marginalized

The second aspect the 杏MAP导航 highlighted was compassion for the 鈥渓east fortunate鈥�: 鈥淣o one should be marginalized to the point of being unable to receive care,鈥�, he remarked, noting that the healthcare systems have developed a special sensitivity "towards the discarded."

The 杏MAP导航 therefore invited healthcare workers to draw inspiration from saints like St. John of God, St. Giuseppe Moscati, and St. Teresa of Calcutta  ensuring no one suffers alone. 鈥淗ere is where proximity comes in,鈥� he said.

Family relationships

杏MAP导航 Francis finally underscored the crucial role played by families in both fishing and healthcare professions. Families, he observed, provide crucial support, often "amid hardship.鈥� He therefore urged the attendees to protect their family relationships, which he said 鈥渁re a 'medicine' for both the healthy and the sick.鈥�