VATICAN CITY (CNS) ─ Meeting young people receiving care at an oncology-hematology clinic in Poland, Pope Francis told them they are witnesses of hope, and he reminded them Jesus is their friend.
"You can share your joys and sorrows with him," he said during an audience at the Vatican Jan. 10 with the young patients, their families, medical staff and the organizers of the group's pilgrimage to Rome from Wroclaw. The group was accompanied by the honorary consul of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Poland.
"You, dear children and young people, are signs of hope for me. And why? Because I am sure that Jesus is present in you. And where he is, there is hope that does not disappoint!" the pope said.
"Jesus took our sufferings upon himself out of love and so we, too, through his love, can unite ourselves with him when we suffer," he said.
"You are his friends," he said, and "proof of Jesus' friendship with you is the love and constant presence of your parents, it is the kind and warm smiles of the doctors, nurses and physical therapists who care for you and work to improve your health, so that you do not lose your hopes and dreams."
Pope Francis asked the young people to help him serve the church by praying for him and offering their suffering for the pope's intentions.
And he asked them to pray for the many children in the world who are sick or injured and lack health care. "There is no medicine, no hospital, no doctors or nurses. Let us remember them, let us be close to them!"
He thanked the children for visiting, saying, "You are brave! And so, you are witnesses of hope for us adults and for your peers."
