SW News: In an audience with doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers from various Italian regions on Saturday, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude for their relentless service during the pandemic.

Represenatives from Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna and Veneto attended the meeting with the Pope.

Doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers “have been a visible sign of humanity that warms the heart. Many of them fell ill and some unfortunately died in the exercise of the profession,” Pope Francis noted.

“We remember them in prayer and with such gratitude,” the Holy Father said.

“Patients often felt that they had angels beside them, who helped them to recover their health and, at the same time, comforted, supported and sometimes accompanied them to the threshold of the final encounter with the Lord," the Pope added.

These health workers, he said, “supported by the solicitude of the hospital chaplains, have witnessed to God's closeness to those who suffer.”

Pope Francis imparted a special apostolic blessing to all those who were present at the audience.