A Message from Holy Father, Pope Francis
Your Conference unites philosophical and theological reflection to scientific research, especially in the field of medicine. Before all else, this allows me to express our gratitude to all who are personally and professionally committed to the care of the sick and the support of those most in need. All of us are grateful these days to those working tirelessly to combat the pandemic, which continues to claim many lives, yet at the same time has represented a challenge to our sense of solidarity and authentic fraternity. For this reason, concern for the centrality of the human person also demands reflection on models of health care that are accessible to all the sick, without disparity. Thanks to interdisciplinary studies, we can come to appreciate better the dynamics involved in the relationship between our physical condition and the state of our habitat, between health and
nourishment, our psycho-physical wellbeing and the care of the spiritual life – also through the practice of prayer and meditation – and finally between health and sensitivity to art, and especially music. It is no accident that medicine serves as a bridge between the natural and the human sciences, so much so that in the past it could be defined as philosophia corporis , as we see in a manuscript kept in the Vatican Apostolic Library.
BRIDGING SCIENCE AND FAITH
His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin Secretary of State, Vatican
Man has within himself characteristics that make him radically different from animals. The ancient thinkers encapsulated this specificity and uniqueness of the human being in a single term, humanitas . One unique feature of humans is the moral conscience that allows us to act by distinguishing between what is good and what is bad. This fundamental reference causes us to ask ourselves ethical questions about our actions, about society, about the use of the tools that we develop and make socially usable. My wish, therefore, is to continue deepening the mystery of our being with enthusiasm and determination, to discover and be fascinated by what makes us truly human.
Grand Hospitaller, His Excellency Dominique Prince de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion in Obedience, The Sovereign Order of Malta
The best way to achieve our goal to assist the sick and the vulnerable is by uniting individuals from different backgrounds and disciplines. We need dialogue to share insights and expertise, combine resources and find suitable solutions. What brings us together is our commitment towards altruism and love.
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