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World Day of the Sick

Catholic awareness day on February 11

Field	Value
holiday_name	World Day of the Sick
observedby	Catholic Church
image	Pope Benedict XVI placing a novelty crown on Our Lady of Lourdes on occasion for the sick pilgrims, 11 February 2007.jpg
caption	Pope Benedict XVI placing a crown on a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes on the World Day of the Sick, 11 February 2007, Saint Peter's Basilica
frequency	Annual
firsttime	11 February 1993
date	11 February
scheduling	same day each year
relatedto	Our Lady of Lourdes

The World Day of the Sick is an awareness day, or observance, in the Catholic Church intended for "prayer and sharing, of offering one's suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding everyone to see in his sick brother or sister the face of Christ". The day was instituted on 13 May 1992 by Pope John Paul II and is celebrated on 11 February, also the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. The day is not a liturgical celebration.

History

Pope John Paul II had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease as early as 1991, an illness which was only confirmed in 2001, and it is significant that he decided to create the World Day of the Sick only one year after his diagnosis. The pope had written a great deal on the topic of suffering and believed that it was very much a salvific and redeeming process through Christ, as he indicated in his apostolic letter Salvifici doloris.

He chose the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes for the date of the observance because many pilgrims and visitors to Lourdes, France, have been reported to have been healed at the Marian Sanctuary there through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. The pope also venerated the sanctuary of Harissa in Lebanon.

In 2005, the World Day of the Sick had a special significance since the ailing pope later died on 2 April of that year. Many people had gathered in St. Peter's Square in Rome to pray for him as he lay dying.

In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation on this day, and he gave his declining health as his reason for retiring.

Pope Francis continued the practice of celebrating the day, which reached its 33rd annual celebration in February 2025.

References

The event was not a rite of [[Canonical coronation]], nor a re-coronation of the image at the Rosary basilica.
Paul II, John. (21 October 1992). "Message of the Holy Father Pope John Paul II for the First Annual World Day of the Sick".
Pisa, Nick. (19 March 2006). "Vatican Hid Pope's Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis for 12 years".
(2005-02-01). "Profile: Pope John Paul II".
Paul II, John. (11 February 1984). "Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris".
Pope Francis, [https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/sick/documents/20250114-giornata-malato.html Message of His Holiness Pope Francis: XXIII World Day of the Sick], published on 14 January 2025, accessed on 12 November 2025

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catholic-holy-days health-awareness-days pope-john-paul-ii february-observances

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