Sve drastičnijim porastom neizlječivih bolesti, koje zahvaćaju velik dio suvremene populacije, javlja se i potreba intenzivnije prisutnosti bolničkog pastorala. Iako je pojava teških bolesti oduvijek pratila čovjeka i zahtijevala prisutnost empatijske njege i duhovne snage, ovaj diplomski rad nastoji analizirati shvaćanje i prihvaćanje te psiho-somatske kušnje. U toj namjeri, polazi se od biblijskog poimanja patnje i smrti u Starome i Novome zavjetu, do suvremenog promišljanja koje zahvaća crkveni pastoral. On se provodi temeljem „Ugovora o dušobrižništvu u bolnicama i ostalim zdravstvenim ustanovama, te ustanovama socijalne skrbi“. Iz Ugovora se u ovom radu izdvaja poseban naglasak na temu uloge bolničkog kapelana, zatim dušobrižništva bolesnih i ožalošćenih te medicinskog osoblja u kliničko-medicinskom kontekstu kao i dušobrižništvo u staračkim domovima, u župnim zajednicama te hospicijima. Zahtjev provedbe crkvenog pastorala bolničkog dušobrižništva i neizostavne važnosti pomoći u trenutcima tjelesne i duševne boli «homo-patients», navodi se i kao imperativ brojnih crkvenih dokumenata, uz neizostavnu duhovnu podršku sakramenata bolesničkog pomazanja, svete ispovijedi i sakramentalnosti svete mise. U provedbi bolničkog dušobrižništva, neizostavna je uloga molitve te duboke duhovnosti kao onih datosti koje pojedincu pomažu da lakše prihvati i odvažno se suoči se sa teškom stvarnošću u kojoj se nalazi.

With drastic increase of incurable diseases, which affects most of the contemporary population, we are witnessing the need for a more intensive presence of hospital pastoral care. Even if the occurrence of severe illness has always followed man and required the presence of empathic care and spiritual strength, this thesis attempts to analyze the understanding and acceptance of that psycho-somatic temptation. It is based on the Bible's understanding of suffering and death in the Old and New Testament, to the contemporary reflection of the Church Pastoral activities. It is implemented on the basis of the "Agreement on hospital care in hospitals and other health facilities and social welfare institutions". From this agreement, special emphasis is placed on the role of the hospital chaplain, followed by the care of sick and bereaved ones, and his dedication to medical personnel in the clinical and medical context, as well as the care of them in nursing homes, in parish communities and hospices. The request for the implementation of the church pastoral care of hospital chaplaincy and it's inevitable important role in assisting nursing in the moments of physical and mental pain of the "homo-patients" is also referred as the imperative of numerous Church documents, with the inescapable spiritual support of sacraments of, the sacrament of patient anointing, of the holy confession and Eucharisty. In the implementation of hospital chaplaincy, it is inescapable role of the prayer and of the deep spirituality, which help individuals to accept this difficult reality, more easily.