Catholic Bishop Challenges Health Workers in Angola to Serve “beyond medical diagnosis”

According to the Catholic Bishop, true healing requires discernment, “not only of the body but also of the spirit and emotions of those who suffer.”

He urged helath workers to cultivate sensitivity, attentiveness, and empathy as they go about serving the sick.

Reflecting on his own experiences, he noted, “How often do we encounter patients whose greatest ailment isn’t physical but spiritual? Many times, just standing in front of the doctor can alleviate an ailment. This is the mystery of the human being. As I have experienced, sometimes the presence of a caring physician alone can lift a patient’s spirits. Loneliness, sadness, despair—these are deep wounds that no scan can detect.”

And comparing the role of health workers to that of a Priest, he said, “The physician is a true Priest; medicine is a form of Priesthood. Pope Francis reminds us that we are all shepherds. For us priests, the faithful are our flock. For you doctors and nurses, your patients are your flock.”

Bishop Francisco recalled the Pope’s call for closeness between shepherds and their flocks, saying, “Pope Francis tells us, ‘Shepherds, smell like your sheep.’”

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He reminded the congregation that doctors, nurses, and health workers restore what God has created, adding, “They do not merely treat the body; they also touch the soul and bring hope to each patient who enters their offices and hospitals.”

“Your hands, dear health professionals, which perform surgeries, prescribe treatments and tend wounds, are instruments of the divine. Remember, your hands are pure, even if they are marked by the blood of your work. Your mission requires purity of intent, and each patient should be treated as a child of God, regardless of their status or background,” Bishop Francisco said.

Encouraging holistic discernment, he said “Your discernment must be all-encompassing, integrating both the physical and spiritual. Here in Angola, we know that challenges are immense. Despite Angola’s wealth in resources, many of our brothers and sisters lack access to adequate healthcare due to inequality. It’s a natural hardship, not one we would wish for.”

Reflecting on the honor of health vocation, he said, “Today, we celebrate not just a profession but the exercise of a higher, almost sacred mission entrusted to us. St. Paul’s message in the first reading speaks to the unity of all believers in Christ. There is one body, one spirit, one hope.”

“Health is not about structures. Health is people—doctors, nurses, caregivers. Each act of care, each comforting word, is a seed planted in the vast field of humanity that will one day bear fruit. Those of you who serve know this well,” Bishop Francisco said.

He noted that “Good care in a hospital is itself a medicine.”

“Your work, no matter how difficult, has eternal value. Every patient you treat is an opportunity to encounter the divine. How deeply you must feel when a patient passes in your care; you are often the first to feel the weight of their loss. You, in your daily work, encounter the presence of God,” the Catholic Church leader said.

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.