By Kielce Gussie
A warm welcome of dance and song greeted Pope Leo XIV at the Jean Pierre Olie Psychiatric Hospital in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
After expressing his gratitude at this welcome, the Pope shared his “mixed feelings” whenever he visits a hospital. On one hand, he said he feels sorrow for the patients and their families. He noted that sometimes people “often carry a heavy burden, sometimes with wounds that can be seen, and at other times with wounds that no one sees, but which they themselves know they carry in their hearts and in their lives.”
Yet, on the other hand, he admires and is comforted by all the work done to “serve human life.”
Being present at the hospital in Malabo is no different. But the Pope did note that he found that “joy prevails.” This joy that stems from coming together in the Lord’s name and caring for those whose health is frail.
A sign of love today
Pope Leo shared how moved he was by the testimonies given during this meeting, including one by the director of the hospital, Professor Bechir Ben Hadj Ali. The director explained that “a truly great society is not one that hides its weaknesses, but one that surrounds them with love.” This is true, the Pope emphasized, as it is a principle of a civilization grounded in Christianity.
Jesus came into the world to “redeem and restore to full dignity to those who suffer from the stigma of disability.” However, He needs our cooperation to do this, both on a personal and social level.
That is why Jesus calls everyone to love their brothers and sisters in words and actions. An institute like the Jean Pierre Olie Psychiatric hospital can be a sign of this civilization of love “with God’s help and everyone’s commitment.”
Love us as we are
Pope Leo then turned to the words of one of the patients at the hospital, Pedro Celestino, who concluded his testimony thanking the Holy Father for “loving us just as we are.”
This is how God loves each and every person, the Pope reminded those present. “But he does not intend for us to stay that way. No, God does not want us to remain sick forever; he wants to heal us.” The Gospel reveals this more than once.
“A hospital, especially one with a Christian mission”, the Holy Father stressed, “is a place where a person is welcomed as they are and respected in their frailty, so that they can be helped to get better according to a holistic vision.” This spiritual sense is essential to this work, he noted.
Only God can fully read
Before closing, the Pope expressed his gratitude for the poem written by Tarcisio. Pope Leo highlighted how many “hidden” poems are written daily, “not with words, but with small gestures, with thoughtfulness and kindness in your relationships with one another.” This is a poem that only God can completely read and it is one that “consoles the merciful Heart of Christ.”
The Pope ended by extending his closeness to all the patients in the hospital, in particular those who are the most seriously ill and most alone, and he imparted his apostolic blessing on everyone at the hospital. – Vatican News
