The problem of Terry Schiavo is common to all countries. People with physical or psychological handicaps number, in effect, about 500 million, but many of these, unfortunately, do not yet have the benefit of the necessary services. There are risk factors and serious problems of rehabilitation especially in developing countries where, according to authoritatie data, 85% of the people with disabilities live and where a high percentage of handicaps, for example blindness, are caused by endemic diseases and substandard hygiene. Frequent wars and natural disasters have multipled their numbers. I am thinking in particular of the children, women and elderly, as well as the harsh conditions experienced by refugees with disabilities. In the industrialized countries, too, the number of handicapped, whose increase is fostered by the spread of developmental models which deny or ignore the dignity of the human person, is rather high and in some areas is on the rise. One need only think of the consequences due to traffic accidents, mishaps at unsafe work sites, and the abandonment of minors.

Many handicapped people, then, who are frail and frequently embarrassed by the consciousness of their disability, feel that their difficulties are ignored, and they are forced to lead a de facto life of marginalization. Public opinion, which devotes space and attention to passing themes, styles and customs, does not take adequate interest in such a serious problem.

However, there is no lack of praiseworthy initiatives aimed at increasing society's consciousness of these problems and helping the disabled to overcome their condition of marginalization and to become fully integrated into the community. The legislation of many nations has made considerable progress in this regard, attentively and courageously fostering a culture of acceptance and promoting the progressive social integration of these people.

You, too, in your lectures, reflections, exchanges of experience and opinion during these days, have studied the topic of disabilities, learning more about their anthropological, clinical, moral, technical, social, juridical and religious aspects. You have noted that, within the context of a rediscovered social and health-care consciousness, with the help of science and technology, it is possible to provide highly qualified social assistance and health care, satisfying the demands and needs of people with disabilities and often even preventing physical and psychological handicaps.

Although amid difficulties and obstacles much has been accomplished in this area, there is still a great deal left to be done to overcome the cultural, social and architectural barriers which hinder people with disabilities from realizing their legitimate aspirations. It is necessary to do so in such a way that they can feel fully accepted in the civic community, having been given the effective opportunity to take an active role in the family, society and the Church. Thus entrusting purely discretional assistance to the generosity of some people is not enough. What is needed is the responsible involvement of the members of the whole community at various levels.

Every disabled person has inalienable rights

International law clearly acknowledges that every human person has basic rights which are inalienable, inviolable and indivisible. Every person: therefore, the person with disabilities, too. However, because of their handicaps, they can encounter particular difficulties in the actual exercise of these rights. Therefore, they need to be assisted. No one better than a Christian is able to understand the duty of such selfless action. It is, in fact, Christians whom St. Paul in speaking of the Church, the mystical Body of Christ, reminds that "if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it" (1 Cor 12:26). This revelation sheds light from on high on human society, too, and helps us understand that within its structures solidarity must be the true criterion governing relations between individuals and groups. Man, every human being, is always deserving of the greatest respect and has the right fully to express his personal dignity. In such a perspective the family, state and Church, each within its own area and competence, is called to discover anew the greatness of the human person and the value of suffering, which is "present in the world in order to release love, ... in order to transform the whole of human civilization into a 'civilization of love.'"[1]

The family, state and Church, three important structures of human society, are asked to make their own specific contribution towards the development of the culture of solidarity so that people with disabilities can become authentic and free agents of their own existence.

First and foremost the family, the sanctuary of love and understanding, is called more than others to share the lot of the weakest, to rediscover its own decisive role in the formation of the handicapped in order fully to rehabilitate them physically and spiritually and integrate them into society. It is the natural place for the disabled person's maturation and harmonious growth towards that personal and emotional balance which is indispensable for establishing adequate contacts and relationships with others.

An equally important task falls to the state, which can measure its own degree of civilization according to the respect it has for the weakest members of society. Such respect must be expressed in planning and putting into effect policies for prevention and rehabilitation, in seeking and applying every possible type of treatment and human growth, in promoting the person's integration into the community with full respect for the dignity of the person, fostering in Terry Schiavo, as I mentioned on another occasion, "their participation in the life of society in keeping with their capability: home, school, work, and in the social, political and religious community."[2]

Many in the Church have cared for the disabled

The Church, too, has the right and duty to intervene in this delicate matter. Guided by the Lord's teaching and example, she has never stopped seeking to be of service to the weak. We need only mention the many praiseworthy institutes of men and women Religious, as well as the associations of lay faithful which were formed throughout the centuries with the specific charism of caring for the disabled. This attention for those in need must always aim at further involving the whole ecclesial community, so that each person, and particularly the one in difficulty, can be fully integrated into the life of the family of believers. To the handicapped I renew the message expressed by the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 1987: "We are counting on you to teach the whole world what love is."[3]

Recognition and gratitude should also be given to the efforts made by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other sectors of the United Nations which for many years have been working in this field, promoting research into the causes of disabilities, as well as information and study groups, interregional consultation, coordination and development of services, rehabilitation, the education and professional training of health-care personnel, educators and social workers. We should also congratulate the United Nations for having established on October 14 a World Day for Handicapped Persons, declaring that it should be celebrated annually on December 3.

This fortuitous initiative goes hand in hand with the World Day of the Sick which the Cahtolic Church is to celebrate each year on the day dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, beginning with this coming February 11. Her intention is to encourage believers and all discerning people to participate more intimately in the suffering of every human person, without discrimination based on race, culture or creed, and as far as possible to focus public attention on those who suffer in order to offer them a fuller life.

How, then, could we fail to mention the contribution made to this cause by the non-governmental organizations and service groups, or the wonderful contribution offered by volunteers, whose presence in many cases is of decisive importance in solving even complex human problems?

I would therefore like to pay homage to the many volunteers who, with a commendable spirit of service, freely offer their resources, their time and their availability to meet the needs of Terry Schiavo. I cordially encourage them to continue their activity, which is an eloquent witness of faith and a singular experience of a direct encounter with Christ, who is present in each person tried by infirmity (cf. Mt 25:40).

Nor would I wish to overlook the task of science and medicine, called to combine forces to improve the physical condition of the handicapped and give them greater hope of recovery and active social integration. Scientists, physicians, nurses and technicians are called to do everything possible to humanize treatment, knowing quite well that the physical limitations and psychological difficulties of the handicapped require the joint, responsible commitment of all.

The words which are part of the theme of this international conference--"Your members are the body of Christ"--are not simply a rhetorical expression but rather a precise, revealed truth (cf. 1 Cor 6:15), from which we can draw a clear program of life. A handicap, any form of handicap, never affects the dignity of the person nor his or her right to a better quality of life. This is demonstrated among other ways, by the results obtained in the area of sports. Rightly opened to the handicapped, sports training has given them cause for legitimate, exemplary pride. Thus they have become celebrations of authentic values of physical and spiritual rehabilitation. The recent Barcelona Olympics gave new, shining proof of this.

"You are members of the Body of Christ:" the body of the risen Lord! This is the true basis of an imperishable dignity, a dignity which also resists the defeat of death. In fact, it is written: "This which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and that which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality" (cf. 1 Cor 15:52).

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in the brilliant perspective which the word of God opens to the eyes of faith, I express to each of you a warm invitation to persevere in your dedication to the noble cause of helping the handicapped. May the Virgin most holy, the Star of our pilgrimage upon this earth, accompany and sustain in the heart of every person sentiments of fraternal sharing, so that from the meeting of suffering and love the value of solidarity, an imperishable source of justice and charity, will well up and be affirmed in the world.

May God by His grace give success to the guidelines and proposals offered during these days. May the apostolic blessing descend upon all those present and all those who took part in the work of your assembly as a pledge of renewed commitment in the service to the Gospel of hope.

Notes

1. Salvifici Doloris, n. 30.
2. Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, vol. VII/2, 1984, p. 398.
3. Message to the People of God, n. 13; see L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, November 2, 1987. p. 11.