As the Christian world commemorates the passion and death of Our Lord, an endless list of genuine followers of Christ in every part of the world continue to grow in their commitment to helping others. They do so inspired by His love for mankind.

The Evangelists speak of Jesus going about preaching the Gospel and healing both physically and spiritually. They also tell us that when Jesus was questioned about the true meaning of the commandment of love, He replied with the parable of the Good Samaritan. He strongly encouraged His followers to love their neighbour and to the commit themselves to render him all necessary services. The message was clear: You cannot love your God unless you love your neighbour.

Such love and such services, carried out in every way possible, constitute a fundamental moral value that accompanies suffering. The witness of so many people throughout the world, who bring healing and love to the sick, irrespective of their status or religious affiliation, lights up the human experience.

There are people who suffer because of illnesses, accidents and natural causes. According to an international charity, for instance, drought has left 13 million people on the brink of a full-scale humanitarian crisis in West Africa. But there are also people whose suffering has its roots in evil generated by the unjust or cruel actions or inactions of others. These include persecution, hostility, discrimination, mockery, scorn, ingratitude, discouragement and abandonment.

All such situations give rise to pain, sorrow, depression, disappointment, desperation and suffering that needs to be addressed with the kind of unreserved solidarity and compassion called for and witnessed by Christ.

This is what motivates the endless list of committed and dedicated Christians everywhere whose answer to suffering is a disinterested love for those in pain. This is the driving force behind so many generous Christians who not only act to help the sick, starting in their own families and communities, but also to drive away a whole series of evils: those who fight hatred, persecution, violence, cruelty and physical and spiritual suffering.

Many of these followers of Christ often do their work of love in risky if not life-threatening environments. In 2011, 26 pastoral care workers were killed worldwide, one more than in the previous year. They were 18 priests, four religious sisters and four lay people.

For the third consecutive year, the area where most of the deaths occurred was the American continent, where 13 priests and two lay persons lost their lives. Following were Africa, with six deaths, Asia, with four victims, and Europe, where one priest died.

Many of the victims were killed during attempted robberies or kidnapping. Others died in the name of Christ by those opposing love with hatred, hope with despair, caring with cruelty and dialogue with violent opposition.

Nonetheless, Christian communities everywhere continue to pioneer many services and institutions aimed at reaching out to the poor, the destitute, the injured and the vulnerable... all those in need of material assistance but also human compassion.

All these people belong to the same category as the Good Samaritan Christ proposed as a model. They form a radiant procession of helpers who by, virtue of their faith and love, place themselves alongside the suffering, thereby bearing definitive witness to the ever-flowing goodness and love of Christ himself.