Pope Leo XIV praised home-based care for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), saying that those who suffer should be accompanied where they are, with support that attends not only to the body but also to the mind and spirit.
Speaking May 9 to members of the Italian ALS Association (AISLA) in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, the Pope thanked patients, relatives, caregivers, volunteers, and researchers for what he called a “therapeutic alliance of deep closeness and solidarity.”
He placed particular emphasis on the association’s presence in patients’ homes.
“Healthcare, as well as organization and expertise, requires a presence — including a physical one — for the good of the person in all their dimensions: biological, psychological and spiritual,” he said.
For Pope Leo, that “being close” is not secondary to care. It is part of care itself. He said the Church values standing beside people “where they are, in their homes,” offering both practical support and spiritual accompaniment. That accompaniment is especially important, he added, because suffering often raises questions of meaning that “cannot go unheard.”
AISLA supports people affected by ALS, their families, and caregivers, while also promoting scientific research, training, information, advocacy, and public awareness. The Pope praised this wider mission, saying it helps protect the rights of those in need.
He also thanked those living with ALS, saying their courage shows that “the goodness and value of life are greater than illness.”
“No-one should ever be left alone,” Pope Leo said, noting that voluntary service helps counter a “culture of waste and death” through concrete acts of care.
The Pope concluded by encouraging patients, families, and caregivers not to lose hope.
“Do not give up,” he said. “Keep going with this courage and hope in the Lord.”
