JAKARTA: Indonesian Jesuit cardinal and retired Archbishop of Jakarta, Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja, appeared in public for the first time since his resignation nearly seven years ago to celebrate World Day of the Sick with hundreds of hospital patients in Semarang, Central Java.

At the age of 82, Cardinal Darmaatmadja said he is still enthusiastic to serve people, despite having difficulties hearing and seeing.

"If you have not recovered from your illness, don't give up your faith. Sickness and pain can make us closer to God," Cardinal Darmaatmadja told Catholic patients during a Mass for the sick on Word Day of the Sick on Feb.12, at St. Elisabeth Hospital in Semarang.

The cardinal also anointed the sick.

"After I was anointed by the cardinal I felt peace of mind," said one patient Ronald Aiditya Erlangga.

St. Pope John Paul II, following the death of the country's first cardinal, Justinus Damojuwono, created Darmaatmadja cardinal in Nov. 1994.

Cardinal Darmaatmadja  resigned on June 28 2010 as Archbishop of Jakarta and has since spent his days with his Jesuit confreres at the Emaus Girisonta retirement home in Semarang. He was succeeded by Coadjutor Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo.--ucanews.com