In communion with the sick

This Sunday is traditionally celebrated as the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, a Marian celebration tied to the healing of the sick and infirm.

In his 2024 Message for the World Day of the Sick, the 32nd annual commemoration, Pope Francis touches on themes of isolation and abandonment in illness, the need for compassionate care and human relationships, the throwaway culture, and the call for Christians to promote a culture of tenderness.

Centred on the Genesis quote “It is not good that man should be alone,” the Pope reflects on how illness often leaves people feeling isolated and abandoned, as was seen during the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic may be over, but the virus remains in circulation worldwide. Only recently the Ministry of Education issued a statement for citizens to be wary during this Carnival season.

Though brief, the Pope’s message impactfully synthesises core Christian convictions about the sacredness of human life, the call to love one’s neighbour, and the need for community in times of vulnerability.

He laments the tragedy of those who died alone, with only healthcare workers by their sides, as well as the elderly and sick who are neglected due to an individualistic culture obsessed with productivity and efficiency.

This abandonment, Pope Francis says, stems from a view of healthcare as just the provision of services rather than a “therapeutic covenant” between patients, families, and providers.

The Pope then turns to the need for compassionate care and human relationships in illness, which he describes as “the first form of care needed”. He urges the sick not to feel ashamed in desiring closeness and tenderness from others. Rather, Pope Francis says, our shared vulnerability and need for relationships is what makes us human and gives meaning to our lives. He points to the Good Samaritan as an example of how we are called to slow down and tenderly care for the wounds of those who suffer.

The Pope goes on to critique the “culture of individualism, indifference and waste” that devalues human life based on productivity and usefulness. This culture, which permeates social policies and medical decisions, cast aside those deemed inefficient or useless. In contrast, he says the sick, vulnerable, and poor must be at the “heart” of the Church’s concern.

Finally, Pope Francis issues a call for Christians to take on the compassionate gaze of Christ, to care for those isolated and marginalised by illness or other struggles. Doing so, he says, will combat individualism and enable a “culture of tenderness and compassion.” He upholds the sick as being central to the mission of the Church.

He gives a prophetic voice to those who feel abandoned in illness. He critiques the tendencies of modern culture that lead to isolation and proposes a vision of healthcare rooted in relationships, compassion, and human dignity.

The message serves as a profound reminder that God’s plan for humanity is one of communion and that the Church has a unique role in upholding the worth of those whom society deems inefficient or expendable.

The Pope proposes a holistic vision – encompassing spiritual, social, and political dimensions – for promoting human dignity, tender care for the desperate, and solidarity with those rendered vulnerable.