The Holy Father's Message for the XXXI World Day of the Sick, which traditionally falls on 11 February, the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, was published today.
On the theme "Take Care of Him". Compassion as a synodal exercise of healing, the Pope's Message highlights the evangelical figure of the Good Samaritan as an example of compassion with which the Church is invited to measure itself in order to "become a true field hospital", and counteract the condition of loneliness and neglect to which many brothers and sisters in need are left.
In the text, Pope Francis points out that the parable of the Good Samaritan "suggests to us how the exercise of fraternity, which began with a face-to-face encounter, can be expanded into organized care" and recalls the work of priests, health workers, family members and volunteers "through whom good stands up in the face of evil every day, in every part of the world". In this perspective, the Holy Father finally emphasised that the World Day of the Sick not only "calls for prayer and closeness towards those who suffer", but at the same time "aims to raise the awareness of God’s people, healthcare institutions and civil society with regard to a new way of moving forward together".