Pope Francis reflecting from hospital: (not written by Pope Francis)
“The walls of hospitals have heard more honest prayers than churches…
They have witnessed far more sincere kisses than those in airports…
It is in hospitals that you see a homophobe being saved by a gay doctor.
A privileged doctor saving the life of a beggar…
In intensive care, you see a Jew taking care of a racist…
A police officer and a prisoner in the same room receiving the same care…
A wealthy patient waiting for a liver transplant, ready to receive the organ from a poor donor…
It is in these moments, when the hospital touches the wounds of people, that different worlds intersect according to a divine design. And in this communion of destinies, we realize that alone, we are nothing.
The absolute truth of people, most of the time, only reveals itself in moments of pain or in the real threat of an irreversible loss.
A hospital is a place where human beings remove their masks and show themselves as they truly are, in their purest essence.
This life will pass quickly, so do not waste it fighting with people.
Do not criticize your body too much.
Do not complain excessively.
Do not lose sleep over bills.
Make sure to hug your loved ones.
Do not worry too much about keeping the house spotless.
Material goods must be earned by each person—do not dedicate yourself to accumulating an inheritance…
You are waiting for too much: Christmas, Friday, next year, when you have money, when love arrives, when everything is perfect…
Listen, perfection does not exist.
A human being cannot attain it because we are simply not made to be fulfilled here.
Here, we are given an opportunity to learn.
So, make the most of this trial of life—and do it now.
Respect yourself, respect others. Walk your own path, and let go of the path others have chosen for you.
Respect: do not comment, do not judge, do not interfere.
Love more, forgive more, embrace more, live more intensely!
And leave the rest in the hands of the Creator.”
—Pope Francis 🙏
Paddy Ferry
Paddy, in this reflection you have movingly captured the conversion we need to ‘care’ for those in Francis’s Field Hospital.
And I notice, while watching the crowds, especially the young, thronging St. Peter’s to pay their respects to Francis, that in his ever useful little book At Worship with Mary (1988) Chris O’Donnell, O. Carm., states, when referring to the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (5th August): “The basilica is one of the focal points of any pilgrimage to Rome. But the austere beauty of the basilica style of architecture, whilst admirably suited to splendid liturgy and perhaps to a Taizé meeting of ten thousand young people, is not however, very favourable for popular piety.”(p.127)
I think all this may be about to change as more and more people heed Francis’s call for an “ecological conversion” (LS #216-221) and people look to this basilica of the Theotokos – making it a place of pilgrimage to “Mary, the Mother who cared for Jesus, now cares with maternal affection and pain for this wounded world.” (LS #241)
We need not believe the legend that it was a dramatic climate change (snow in summer) that first marked the basilica’s boundary. But we cannot ignore the evidence of science and our own contemporary experiences of what is happening now to planet Earth.
Lovely — but we have seen too many fake Francis quotes!
Is this a fake letter written by Pope Francis or by whom?
This is a lovely sentiment. But it was not written by Pope Francis and it is being circulated falsely on social media
Does it really matter … he could. The Pope would have agreed with it…none the less. The Pope was about love and compassion.
“It is in hospitals that you see a homophobe being saved by a gay doctor.”
Pope Francis would not call someone “a homophobe” (though in a different text of this screed it reads “a homophobic person”). The plague of fake quotes on the internet is really dangerous. ANYTHING you find my W. B. Yeats is a fake — for instance “There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t met” (proudly displayed on the pub nearest me in Tokyo). ANYTHING by St Augustine, St Teresa of Avila, or Pope Francis (except when correct references are given, which is almost never). Yeats’s reputation labours under the shadow of his internet ghost. The deceptiveness is such that fake old Celtic looking pages are generated to lodge the fake quote. Considering the role that fake quotes have played in human history (in school we heard of the Ems telegram that started the Prussian war, which was a prelude to World War I and World War II) this plague of locusts needs correction.
Yes it does matter.
https://www.boatos.org/english/was-the-text-definition-of-hospital-written-by-pope-francis.html Not by Pope Francis
Even though this was in 2018, it still doesn’t say who wrote it and is not exactly proof Pope Francis didn’t write it. Unknown Author could have his pen name?
A simple truth as written and received by faith in Christ who speaks from before the entrance into the arms of God Himself…a place of reinvesting a final moment of hope in his life and one day our own…#InHisPresence
Anyone familiar with the reflections and prayers of the French priest Michel Quoist (1921 – 1997) best known for his book Prayers of Life will recognize when they read it a creative meditation in his style of writing. Quoist’s literary work was particularly well known in Latin America.
My understanding is this was not written by Pope Francis.
Since it was first seen on the social platform now called ‘X’ by Father Jim Sichko in 2023 (July 10th 2023) and even at that time it was said to have been written by Pope Francis. Who should we believe?
‘Pope Francis Reflecting from Hospital’ was submitted in good faith by a member, and published in that spirit. While it now transpires the words are not written by Pope Francis the sentiments expressed are worthy of reflection (Editor).
While not written by Pope Francis, we should all take the time to reflect on its content. Be grateful for what you have. Be kind and considerate. Life is a short walk. Take time to enjoy the small things.
Please pull this down. It is being circulated EVERYWHERE saying it is Pope Francis’s quote – it is confusing. The sentiment may be nice but please just pull it.
Please could you let us know who wrote these beautiful words?
Thank you!
Why did Paddy Ferry choose this title: Pope Francis reflecting from hospital: (not written by Pope Francis). The title is misleading and somewhat provocative to those who care about authorship. Did the author actually meet with with Pope Francis to gain these insights? BTW, I do agree that if asked , Pope Francis would agree with the article or at least with the sentiment of the article. Pope Francis was a man of mercy and not a man who judged others. Thank you
John@18, I did not choose that title.
It was shared among my university friends on our class WhatsApp and I decided to share it as I had received it.
We had been discussing what a transformative influence Francis had been on our Church and this piece seemed very much in keeping with the Francis’ mentality and ideals.
I realise it is important to be careful with social media posts though, as Liamy mentions @14, the sentiments expressed are worthy of reflection.
Paddy Ferry
(Please note: Comments on this post have now closed – Editor)