Scientific research as a form of love for mankind

In a revelatory interview, Father Francesco Occhetta, secretary general of the “Fratelli Tutti” Foundation, reflects on the relationship between fraternity, responsibility, and scientific research, on the occasion of the World Day of the Sick. Starting from Pope Francis’s encyclical Fratelli tutti, Occhetta explores how individual responsibility towards others can generate a global community based on fraternity. A crucial theme, especially in healthcare, where the fundamental question is: «Who is entitled to medical care?»

According to Occhetta, scientific research transforms into a form of charity and love for humanity, serving as a means to practice universal fraternity by enhancing care and humanizing medicine. With the advancement of technology, he emphasizes the significance of maintaining empathetic listening to patients- an element that goes beyond rationality and enables us to care for not only the body but also the emotional and spiritual dimensions of those who are ill. The challenge, therefore, is to integrate science with care ethics, acknowledging that true medicine encompasses not only the treatment of disease but also addressing the human and relational needs of patients, ultimately fostering a fairer and more supportive world.