Photo: Pope Francis visit the patients and staff in a cancer ward in June of 2023.
The World Day of the Sick was instituted by St. John Paul II in 1992, and is celebrated on February 11, 2025, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
In his message for the 33rd World Day of the Sick in 2025, Pope Francis reflected on this day in light of the Jubilee Year. In fact, the theme he chose builds on the quote from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans which he used to introduce the Jubilee Year (Rom 5:5): “‘Hope does not disappoint’, but strengthens us in times of trial.” In his message, Pope Francis wrote that God is close to the sick in three ways: through “encounter”, “gift” and “sharing”.
For the complete text of Pope Francis’ Message for Thirty-Third World Day of the Sick, click the following button (link to Vatican website):