ASSISTING THE ELDERLY AND PALLIATIVE CARE. XXI GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MEMBERS 2015

Dear brothers and sisters,

I warmly welcome you on the occasion of your General Assembly, called to reflect on the theme "Assistance to the elderly and palliative care", and I thank the President for his kind words. I am especially pleased to greet Cardinal Sgreccia, who is a pioneer… Thank you.

Palliative care is an expression of the truly human attitude of taking care of one another, especially of those who suffer. It is a testimony that the human person is always precious, even if marked by illness and old age. Indeed the person, under any circumstances, is an asset to him/herself and to others and is loved by God. This is why when their life becomes very fragile and the end of the their earthly existence approaches, we fell the responsibility to assist and accompany them in the best way

Address oh His Holiness Pope Francis to Participants in The XXI General Assembly of The Pontifical Academy for Life.