Pope Leo XIV welcomed members of the Latin Ibero-American and Caribbean Medical Confederation (CONFEMEL) to the Vatican on Thursday, commending their dedication to providing quality healthcare and urging them to preserve the human dimension of their work.
CONFEMEL represents over two million physicians across Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Caribbean. Addressing the group on the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, the Pope likened the doctor–patient relationship to the protective and caring role of angels.
Quoting Saint Augustine, Pope Leo described Christ as both “physician and medicine,” underscoring the importance of personal connection in healing. “Dialogue, communication, and physical contact must always be present in the therapeutic relationship,” he said, warning against the risk of reducing medicine to mechanical intervention.
Reflecting on the Gospel story of Jesus healing the leper, the Pope emphasized the power of a compassionate touch, calling it a moment of salvation rooted in personal connection rather than mere procedure.
Pope Leo also highlighted the legacy of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández, a revered Venezuelan physician known for his service to the poor, as a model for today’s medical professionals.
Turning to the rise of artificial intelligence in medicine, the Pope acknowledged its potential to enhance care but stressed it cannot replace the human presence of a doctor. “An algorithm can never replace a gesture of closeness or a word of comfort,” he said, quoting Pope Benedict XVI’s words describing doctors as “reservoirs of love.”
In closing, Pope Leo encouraged the doctors to face the future with hope, entrusting them to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Health of the Sick,” as they continue their healing mission.
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