Pope Francis recalls World Day of the Sick

Friday, 11 February is the thirtieth World Day of the Sick. Instituted by Saint John Paul II this day is “to encourage the people of God, Catholic health institutions and civil society to be increasingly attentive to the sick and to those who care for them.”

This year Pope Francis reinforces the mission of welcoming and accompanying those who are ill.

“The patient is always more important than his illness and this is why any therapeutic approach cannot neglect listening… How can we not recall, in this regard, the many patients who, during the pandemic, lived in isolation.”

During his address the Pope also said that “Even when healing is not possible, care can always be given. It is always possible to console, it is always possible to make people sense a closeness that is more interested in the person than in his or her pathology.”