Yesterday, the Holy Father met with a group of sick and suffering folk in Cameroon. The location of this meeting was the Paul Émile Léger Centre, named for the Canadian Cardinal who was so well known for work among the people of that country.
Continuing the theme of his pastoral visit, the Holy Father spoke words of consolation to those who were gathered, telling them that they are not alone: that Christ himself is close to all those who suffer. Like Jesus himself, who chose to spend time in presence of those who were suffering the Pontiff's purpose is to demonstrate his fraternal tenderness and benevolence towards all the broken-hearted, all whose bodies are wounded.
For so many years, the people of Africa have been the outcasts, thanks to those of us who find ourselves living in other parts of the world. Therefore this visit bears all the more relevance as the Pope demonstrates his fraternal concern for those who suffer in silence or otherwise. This is the task set before all of us who follow in the footsteps of the Lord: bring good news to the poor ... proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind ... let the oppressed go free ... proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord (cf Lk 4:18-19).
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