Pope Francis on Friday (November 29) called on medical care personnel to treat not just as a profession but as a sacred act.

The Pope gave the advice as he addressed a group of dentists from a university in Naples, celebrating 800 years since its foundation.

Pope Francis noted that the University of Naples was founded as the world’s first state-sponsored university, Pope Francis noted that the University of Naples.

He told those those working in the medical field that the the timeless relevance of the motto that continues to guide medical professionals: Primum non nocere, secundum cavere, tertium sanare—first, do no harm; second, take care; third, heal.

He explained that these three purposes remain a guiding light in the field of medicine, saying each step offers profound wisdom.

On the first principle - do no harm, the Pope Francis emphasised its importance in practice, noting that it calls for a realism that acknowledges the pain and suffering a patient already endures.

He said doctors must always act in a way, recalling that their duty is to alleviate, not exacerbate, pain.

Reflecting then on the second principle, to take care, the Catholic church leader reflected that it is God's call.

“God is near, compassionate, and tender,” the Pope said, urging all those present to extend this divine style to their patients.

He recounted a personal story from his early twenties, when part of his lung had to be removed.
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“Yes, they gave me medicine, but what gave me the most strength was the hand of the nurses who, after giving me injections, held my hand. This human tenderness does so much good!” he said.

This principle, the Pope explained, goes beyond treating symptoms. It means caring for the whole person—their body, mind, and spirit.

On the final part - heal, Pope Francis called on medical professionals to emulate Christ, who healed every kind of illness and infirmity.

Healing, he said, is more than a profession; it is a sacred act.

The Pope urged doctors to find joy in the good they bring to those who suffer, drawing on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which describes the Church’s mission as “healing every wound and reconciling humanity.”