“Suffering is the exclusive preserve of no one, and each religion has something to say on the matter”. The problem of suffering was discussed during the 3rd inter-religious meeting held in Barcelona from 2 to 4 March on the initiative of the Faculty of Philosophy of Catalonia, the episcopal delegation for the apostolate of healthcare and the Universitas Albertiana. Its aim, explained María Boris, organizer of the conference, was to “reflect on the meaning of human suffering, and on how to assume suffering with humility in order to convert it into a sense of wholeness and not into a non-sense”. The meeting included lectures, testimonies, even a performance of clowns and an exhibition “The aesthetics of suffering”, by Mohamed Faila, calligrapher and writer of the Institute of Fine Arts in Tetuán. According to Josep Mª Forcada, physician and delegate for the apostolate of healthcare of the diocese of Barcelona, “there’s only one possible attitude” to suffering: “accepting it, recognizing it, and acknowledging that it forms part of the human being”. Forcata said that “suffering should neither be desired nor sought”. Rather it should be seen as “a stage, a step in life in which the human being has a need for special treatment, and it is just in this fragility that he can deepen his friendship with God who loves and suffers. We need to liberate the invalid from every sense of guilt and loneliness”. The Christian sense of suffering, he said, is felt “in closeness to God”. “Those who are close to the suffering must bring hope and a suitable treatment for pain. “Suffering needs to be assuaged. The patient needs to know that he does not suffer alone”.
