Yaounde, Feb. 10 (CWNews.com) - As Catholic prepared for ceremonies marking the World Day for the Sick in Yaounde, Cameroon, the host archbishop said that Pope John Paul II should remain in office despite his illness.
Cardinal Christian Tumi of Douala said that the Holy Father has become a worldwide example of courage and an inspiration for the elderly. "I think that the Pope has to persevere, despite his suffering," he said. The cardinal added: "For us, here in Africa, the chief cannot resign."
Cardinal Tumi spoke to reporters on the eve of the World Day for the Sick ceremonies, which are being held in Cameroon this year. The annual observance coincides with the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The cardinal remarked that the increasing difficulty that the Pope experiences in speaking must cause severe suffering. As he put it, "the silence of a pastor who has traveled across the entire world to proclaim the Gospel, in season and out of season, whether he is heard or not, must cost him a great deal." But he added that as long as the Pope remains mentally alert, he can continue to lead the Church.
Cardinal Tumi said that all of the participants at the three-day meeting in Yaounde would be praying for the Pope's health and perseverance. He observed that a time when 'the world seems to have forgotten Africa," the faithful on that continent have always felt assured the John Paul II cares for their needs.
In his message for this year's observance of the World Day for the Sick, which was made public last September, the Pope called for new efforts to fight the spread of the AIDS epidemic in Africa.
Catholic World News
Comments