Next Sunday is World Day of the Sick. This was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1992 to encourage people to pray for those who suffer from illness, and for their caregivers. The Pope himself had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s a year before, in 1991, and it is considered that his own illness was impetus for his designation of the day. Every year the pope sets a theme for the World Day of the Sick.
The theme for this year is provided by the words that Jesus spoke from the Cross to Mary, his Mother: “Woman, behold your son” and to John: “Behold your mother”. And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (Jn 19:26-27). The day also coincides with the commemoration of the Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Read the full message of Pope Francis for world Day of the Sick on the Internet, here