Pope Francis sent a touching video message to a 17-year-old Portuguese woman who is suffering from a serious illness. The girl had written him a letter expressing her affection and also her sadness at not being able to attend the next World Youth Day in Lisbon
Felipe Herrera-Espaliat – Vatican City
Edna is 17 years old and knows that she will soon meet God, as explained to her by the doctor who has been taking care of her serious illness for eight years. He also communicated this to Pope Francis in a letter he sent him yesterday, Thursday 22 June. “The doctor said he didn’t know when I would meet Jesus, but that it would be soon,” he said with a calmness that moved the Holy Father.
Although she has registered to take part in the next World Youth Day, which will take place in Lisbon from August 1 to 6, she confided to the Pope that it will not be possible to accompany him physically. Edna, eager to meet the Pope, experiences this situation with pain, but also with a genuine and sincere faith and a benevolent smile, as testified by those who have been visiting her for more than a decade in the parish of San Massimiliano Kolbe, on the edge of the Lusitanian capital.
“When I found out that the day would be held in Portugal I was very happy because every time I see the Pope’s speech on TV I feel good, as if I didn’t have an illness that would prevent me from to take part in World Youth Day,” emphasizes Edna in a letter. He then adds that he wanted to write to Francesco to let him know “how important he is to me and my family”.
Young Edna, author of the letter
“Thank you” six times
Pope Francis’ video message to all the boys and girls who have been working for months to make the great youth event in Lisbon possible: “Generosity is not learned…”
As soon as he read the lines written by Edna from the hospital, the Pope decided to respond with a video message lasting just over a minute, in which he repeated the word “thank you” six times:
“Edna, I received your letter, thank you! Thank you for your tenderness and thank you for the peace you have in your heart. This peace is like a seed planted in the hearts of all of us who see you and speak to you. Thank you very much! I accompany you on this journey that you are on. I accompany you and I know that you will be well received. I accompany you, pray for you, pray with you and look to Jesus who is always waiting for us. Thank you!” said the Holy Father to her.
Edna asked the Pope to pray for her and Francis asked her in the video message to do the same for him. Complicity in prayer, sealed by the final blessing: “And now I give you my blessing to give you strength on this path as well.”
Edna’s letter to the Pope