Pope to ALS Association: You teach the world the true value of life
By Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV on Friday morning welcomed members of the Italian Association for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (AISLA) to the Vatican, reminding those present that patients living with ALS are "prophets" who teach the world the true value of life.
Addressing patients, families, volunteers and healthcare workers gathered for the meeting, the Pope expressed his gratitude for the Association’s work of assistance, advocacy and research, while reflecting especially on the witness offered by those living with ALS.
"Every day, with commitment, faith and courage", he said, they testify that "the goodness and value of life are greater than illness".
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles, gradually impairing movement, speech and breathing. Although there is currently no cure, organisations such as AISLA accompany patients and families through practical support, home assistance, scientific research and advocacy for the protection of patients’ rights across Italy.
Founded in 1983, AISLA has become one of Italy’s principal reference points for those affected by the disease. They promote what Pope Leo described as an "alliance of closeness and proximity" between patients, relatives and caregivers. This closeness, he continued, reflects the very style of Jesus Himself, who approached the suffering not from a distance, but personally and compassionately.
A culture of care
Pope Leo continued by praising the Association’s presence in the homes of those suffering, underlining that healthcare requires more than organisation and expertise. True care, he said, demands "presence, even physical presence", attentive to the biological, psychological and spiritual dimensions of the human person.
"The Church deeply values this ‘being close,’" he said, recalling the importance of accompanying people where they are, especially in moments marked by suffering and uncertainty.
He added that pain inevitably raises profound questions of meaning, questions which “must not go unheard.”
The Pope then went on to thank the volunteers of AISLA, describing their work as a powerful response to today’s "culture of waste and death", quoting Pope Francis. Through gestures of solidarity and gratuitous service, he said, they remind society that no one should ever be abandoned, especially in moments of vulnerability.
Hope stronger than suffering
Reflecting then on Christ’s Passion, Pope Leo reminded those present that Jesus Himself chose to enter fully into human suffering, experiencing physical pain and spiritual anguish during the Via Crucis.
Yet the Cross and Resurrection, he said, reveal that suffering does not have the final word. "Pain and suffering cannot stop love or extinguish the power of God", the Pope affirmed. For this reason, Christians remain "a people of hope", who continue walking together without surrendering before difficulties.
Bringing his address to a close, Pope Leo entrusted the members of AISLA to the protection of the Virgin Mary and the saints known for their charity and closeness to the sick.
"Thank you for what you do" he said, finally adding, "I accompany you with my prayers and bless you from my heart".
Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here
