Pope urges international community to help eradicate leprosy

Published: 2004-01-26

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II urged the world community to continue its work to wipe out leprosy while the head of the Vatican's office for health care emphasized the church's need to address the spiritual needs of the sick and medical professionals. After praying the Sunday Angelus Jan. 25, World Day of Leprosy, the pope said his thoughts were "with all those who still suffer from Hansen's disease," which is another name for leprosy. "While I invite you to pray for them and the people who care for them, I encourage the international community's efforts to eradicate this disease," said the pope from the window of his apostolic palace to the pilgrims below in St. Peter's Square. In a Jan. 25 message marking World Day of Leprosy, Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, called for the training of religious and lay workers to prepare them for the "spiritual trials not only of sick people but also of the professional men and women who are directly involved."

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