Katherine Pettus
@kpettus.bsky.social
Political theorist, Benedictine oblate, and advocate for global palliative care and essential medicines with the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care. I live in Chinchon, Spain. All tweets are my own.
Reposted by Katherine Pettus
"It was Christ’s humble birth that set the stage. It was the first lesson in a series: to oppress others is to oppress Christ, to hate others is to hate Christ, and to love your enemies can be the most dangerous and revolutionary act of them all." www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/o...
Opinion | Christianity Is a Dangerous Faith
www.nytimes.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:09 PM
"It was Christ’s humble birth that set the stage. It was the first lesson in a series: to oppress others is to oppress Christ, to hate others is to hate Christ, and to love your enemies can be the most dangerous and revolutionary act of them all." www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/o...
.@pontifex Leo supports ecumenical #palliativecare “Finland has been described as “a model country for ecumenism (...) I know that the bishops of Helsinki (...) have jointly affirmed that “the development of palliative and end-of-life care must continue.” www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
January 20, 2026 at 7:20 AM
.@pontifex Leo supports ecumenical #palliativecare “Finland has been described as “a model country for ecumenism (...) I know that the bishops of Helsinki (...) have jointly affirmed that “the development of palliative and end-of-life care must continue.” www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
“Civil society and States have a responsibility to respond concretely to situations of vulnerability, offering solutions to human suffering, such as palliative care, and promoting policies of authentic solidarity, rather than encouraging deceptive forms of compassion, such as euthanasia.” Pope Leo
January 17, 2026 at 10:45 AM
“Civil society and States have a responsibility to respond concretely to situations of vulnerability, offering solutions to human suffering, such as palliative care, and promoting policies of authentic solidarity, rather than encouraging deceptive forms of compassion, such as euthanasia.” Pope Leo
Pope Leo:”Civil society & States also have a responsibility to respond concretely to situations of vulnerability, offering solutions to human suffering, such as palliative care, and promoting policies of authentic solidarity, rather than encouraging deceptive forms of compassion such as euthanasia.”
January 11, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Pope Leo:”Civil society & States also have a responsibility to respond concretely to situations of vulnerability, offering solutions to human suffering, such as palliative care, and promoting policies of authentic solidarity, rather than encouraging deceptive forms of compassion such as euthanasia.”
Incarnation means that “Solidarity becomes the criterion of all human relationships, calling us to strive for justice & peace, to care for the most fragile, and to defend the weak. God has become flesh; therefore, there is no authentic worship of God without care for humanity.” #palliativecare
January 4, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Incarnation means that “Solidarity becomes the criterion of all human relationships, calling us to strive for justice & peace, to care for the most fragile, and to defend the weak. God has become flesh; therefore, there is no authentic worship of God without care for humanity.” #palliativecare
Reposted by Katherine Pettus
Tools for pandemic preparedness sometimes overlook humanitarian settings, where conflict and fragile governance negate traditional preparedness tools. To determine outbreak readiness, local and national capacity should be assessed together.
Repairing Global Health Security at the Humanitarian Frontline | Think Global Health
Reorienting the global preparedness system to include humanitarian settings requires conceptual and operational shifts
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
December 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Tools for pandemic preparedness sometimes overlook humanitarian settings, where conflict and fragile governance negate traditional preparedness tools. To determine outbreak readiness, local and national capacity should be assessed together.
An Advent Message: UHC Day 2025, Handel’s Messiah, and IAHPC’s work towards a world free from health-related suffering
Today is UHC Day, 2025. The world aspires to fairness when the UN agencies proclaim that access to affordable preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care…
Today is UHC Day, 2025. The world aspires to fairness when the UN agencies proclaim that access to affordable preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care…
An Advent Message: UHC Day 2025, Handel’s Messiah, and IAHPC’s work towards a world free from health-related suffering
Today is UHC Day, 2025. The world aspires to fairness when the UN agencies proclaim that access to affordable preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care is essential to attain Agenda for Sustainable Development’s Target 3.8. Yet this new WHO Report on UHC development in 2025 shows that most people in the world still suffer financial hardship in accessing health services.
katherinepettusconsulting.wordpress.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:05 PM
An Advent Message: UHC Day 2025, Handel’s Messiah, and IAHPC’s work towards a world free from health-related suffering
Today is UHC Day, 2025. The world aspires to fairness when the UN agencies proclaim that access to affordable preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care…
Today is UHC Day, 2025. The world aspires to fairness when the UN agencies proclaim that access to affordable preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care…
Palliative lions
This week's Advent visions of the Kingdom, where lions lie down with lambs and eat straw, call to mind our vision of universal palliative care that supports all people suffering with serious illnesses, disabilities, and challenging end of life journeys. The fact that prophets such…
This week's Advent visions of the Kingdom, where lions lie down with lambs and eat straw, call to mind our vision of universal palliative care that supports all people suffering with serious illnesses, disabilities, and challenging end of life journeys. The fact that prophets such…
Palliative lions
This week's Advent visions of the Kingdom, where lions lie down with lambs and eat straw, call to mind our vision of universal palliative care that supports all people suffering with serious illnesses, disabilities, and challenging end of life journeys. The fact that prophets such as Isaiah could envision and proclaim such a world, where practices of care for the meekest and most vulnerable among us are the norm rather than the exception as they are now, gestures to the validity of that world.
katherinepettusconsulting.wordpress.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Palliative lions
This week's Advent visions of the Kingdom, where lions lie down with lambs and eat straw, call to mind our vision of universal palliative care that supports all people suffering with serious illnesses, disabilities, and challenging end of life journeys. The fact that prophets such…
This week's Advent visions of the Kingdom, where lions lie down with lambs and eat straw, call to mind our vision of universal palliative care that supports all people suffering with serious illnesses, disabilities, and challenging end of life journeys. The fact that prophets such…
Calling for a pall-literacy campaign on World Day of the Poor
Pope Leo’s Message on 9th World Day of the Poor claimed that “the poor are not recipients of our pastoral care, but creative subjects who challenge us to find novel ways of living out the Gospel today. In the face of new forms of…
Pope Leo’s Message on 9th World Day of the Poor claimed that “the poor are not recipients of our pastoral care, but creative subjects who challenge us to find novel ways of living out the Gospel today. In the face of new forms of…
Calling for a pall-literacy campaign on World Day of the Poor
Pope Leo’s Message on 9th World Day of the Poor claimed that “the poor are not recipients of our pastoral care, but creative subjects who challenge us to find novel ways of living out the Gospel today. In the face of new forms of impoverishment, we can risk becoming hardened and resigned.” The 86 percent of the world’s people who lack palliative care…
katherinepettusconsulting.wordpress.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Calling for a pall-literacy campaign on World Day of the Poor
Pope Leo’s Message on 9th World Day of the Poor claimed that “the poor are not recipients of our pastoral care, but creative subjects who challenge us to find novel ways of living out the Gospel today. In the face of new forms of…
Pope Leo’s Message on 9th World Day of the Poor claimed that “the poor are not recipients of our pastoral care, but creative subjects who challenge us to find novel ways of living out the Gospel today. In the face of new forms of…
A Prison Hospice Program for the Living and the Dying www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
A Prison Hospice Program for the Living and the Dying
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:26 PM
A Prison Hospice Program for the Living and the Dying www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Albanian nurse leader Irena Laska, IAHPC delegate to #RC75 @WHO Europe, delivers our statement on #palliativecare inclusion in 2nd European Programme of Work today! Read it here:https://iahpc.org/uploads/2025/10/IAHPC-Statement-on-palliative-care-re-RC75-European-Program-of-Work.pdf
October 29, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Albanian nurse leader Irena Laska, IAHPC delegate to #RC75 @WHO Europe, delivers our statement on #palliativecare inclusion in 2nd European Programme of Work today! Read it here:https://iahpc.org/uploads/2025/10/IAHPC-Statement-on-palliative-care-re-RC75-European-Program-of-Work.pdf
What does meaningful support look like for caregivers of people living with dementia? Join us next Thursday October 30th at 2pm CET for a free webinar hosted by the @IAHPC to explore how WHO's iSupport prorgramme can support caregivers throughout their care journey.
Register: lnkd.in/eFJYtPXB
Register: lnkd.in/eFJYtPXB
October 23, 2025 at 6:23 PM
What does meaningful support look like for caregivers of people living with dementia? Join us next Thursday October 30th at 2pm CET for a free webinar hosted by the @IAHPC to explore how WHO's iSupport prorgramme can support caregivers throughout their care journey.
Register: lnkd.in/eFJYtPXB
Register: lnkd.in/eFJYtPXB
October 14, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Dr Yukio Nakatani @who.int opening session of CND Thematic Session calls for "safe access to controlled medicines limited in many parts of the world." Says drug control must be rooted in public health & access to controlled meds shld be integrated into national policies supported by whole of govt!
September 30, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Dr Yukio Nakatani @who.int opening session of CND Thematic Session calls for "safe access to controlled medicines limited in many parts of the world." Says drug control must be rooted in public health & access to controlled meds shld be integrated into national policies supported by whole of govt!
INCB President Professor Atasoy calls out persistent disparities in availability of controlled medicines due to inaccurate estimates of medical needs by member states.Promotes Learning Programme to improve availability for #palliativecare #painrelief #SUD treatment. CND Thematic Session 2025.
September 30, 2025 at 1:09 PM
INCB President Professor Atasoy calls out persistent disparities in availability of controlled medicines due to inaccurate estimates of medical needs by member states.Promotes Learning Programme to improve availability for #palliativecare #painrelief #SUD treatment. CND Thematic Session 2025.
Lazarus and the rich man: why palliative care advocacy is so challenging!
Today's gospel about Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31) pinpoints why palliative care advocacy is so challenging. The rich man, oblivious to Lazarus languishing on his doorstep, didn’t experience compassion until he…
Today's gospel about Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31) pinpoints why palliative care advocacy is so challenging. The rich man, oblivious to Lazarus languishing on his doorstep, didn’t experience compassion until he…
Lazarus and the rich man: why palliative care advocacy is so challenging!
Today's gospel about Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31) pinpoints why palliative care advocacy is so challenging. The rich man, oblivious to Lazarus languishing on his doorstep, didn’t experience compassion until he himself suffered the torments of hell after death. Only then did he notice Lazarus and beg him to “dip the tip of his finger in water” to cool his tongue.
katherinepettusconsulting.wordpress.com
September 28, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Lazarus and the rich man: why palliative care advocacy is so challenging!
Today's gospel about Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31) pinpoints why palliative care advocacy is so challenging. The rich man, oblivious to Lazarus languishing on his doorstep, didn’t experience compassion until he…
Today's gospel about Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31) pinpoints why palliative care advocacy is so challenging. The rich man, oblivious to Lazarus languishing on his doorstep, didn’t experience compassion until he…
“A quiet revolution in care-giving is emerging – rooted in compassion, driven by dignity. In a place often associated with suffering, this initiative is sowing seeds of healing, presence, and human connection. www.thetablet.co.uk/features/bor...
September 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
“A quiet revolution in care-giving is emerging – rooted in compassion, driven by dignity. In a place often associated with suffering, this initiative is sowing seeds of healing, presence, and human connection. www.thetablet.co.uk/features/bor...
Important event at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs October 3. Register for online participation
September 11, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Important event at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs October 3. Register for online participation
“Loneliness also imperils the health of the body politic…in The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt characterizes loneliness as “the experience of not belonging to the world at all.” …loneliness leaves us vulnerable to totalitarian power www.commonwealmagazine.org/virtues-soli...
The Virtues of Solitude
Curing loneliness requires more than just socialization. It also requires cultivating spiritually fulfilling solitude.
www.commonwealmagazine.org
September 5, 2025 at 2:44 PM
“Loneliness also imperils the health of the body politic…in The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt characterizes loneliness as “the experience of not belonging to the world at all.” …loneliness leaves us vulnerable to totalitarian power www.commonwealmagazine.org/virtues-soli...
www.americamagazine.org/short-take/2... walking the talk.
Why San Diego’s Catholic leaders are standing with migrants in court—against impossible odds
Some 50 people of faith, including the three Catholic bishops of San Diego, have signed up to stand with our immigrant brothers and sisters.
www.americamagazine.org
August 27, 2025 at 5:53 AM
www.americamagazine.org/short-take/2... walking the talk.
Feast of St Camillus de Lellis founder of “The Clerks Regular of Good Death, Ministers to the Sick,” commonly known as the Camillians. Patron saint of the sick, nurses & hospice workers, Revolutionized 16th century nursing, founded the first Red Cross, sent nurses to battleflields in Hungary!
July 18, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Feast of St Camillus de Lellis founder of “The Clerks Regular of Good Death, Ministers to the Sick,” commonly known as the Camillians. Patron saint of the sick, nurses & hospice workers, Revolutionized 16th century nursing, founded the first Red Cross, sent nurses to battleflields in Hungary!
North America & Western and HIC's have high levels of opioid availability 4 medical use >10,000 S-DDDs per million inhabitants in 2023. Average 1,329 SDDDs per million inhabitants in SE Europe; low of 7.1 S-DDDs per million inhabitants in West & Central Africa in 2023. www.unodc.org/documents/da...
July 14, 2025 at 4:42 PM
North America & Western and HIC's have high levels of opioid availability 4 medical use >10,000 S-DDDs per million inhabitants in 2023. Average 1,329 SDDDs per million inhabitants in SE Europe; low of 7.1 S-DDDs per million inhabitants in West & Central Africa in 2023. www.unodc.org/documents/da...
"availability of pharmaceutical opioids for pain management & palliative care continues to vary considerably between LMICs & HICs. Availability in low- and middle-income countries has been increasing, but the gap between them and high-income countries remains massive.” www.unodc.org/documents/da...
July 14, 2025 at 4:25 PM
"availability of pharmaceutical opioids for pain management & palliative care continues to vary considerably between LMICs & HICs. Availability in low- and middle-income countries has been increasing, but the gap between them and high-income countries remains massive.” www.unodc.org/documents/da...
“Policymakers adhere to a narrative that conflicts with the data.” CDC data reveals no connection between amount of opioids prescribed and rates of nonmedical use or addiction. People who misuse opioids aren't the same as patients who rely on them for real pain. reason.com/2025/07/01/t...
The real opioid crisis isn’t prescriptions—it’s prohibition
West Virginia's overdose data prove it: Officials misunderstood the problem, and patients paid the price.
reason.com
July 2, 2025 at 12:04 PM
“Policymakers adhere to a narrative that conflicts with the data.” CDC data reveals no connection between amount of opioids prescribed and rates of nonmedical use or addiction. People who misuse opioids aren't the same as patients who rely on them for real pain. reason.com/2025/07/01/t...