The Peruvian city of Chiclayo is hosting the XXXIV World Day of the Sick from February 9 to 11, with the presence of Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, the Pope Leo XIV’s special envoy and prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, who has made pastoral visits to several hospitals in the region to bring a message of consolation, closeness, and hope to the sick, their families, and healthcare professionals.
Presence of the papal envoy and pastoral message
According to Vatican News, Cardinal Czerny visited various hospital centers in Chiclayo, including Las Mercedes Hospital, Almanzor Asenjo Hospital, and Belén Hospital, where he conveyed on behalf of the Holy Father the Church’s closeness to those going through situations of illness, assuring them that “they are not alone” and reminding them that God draws especially close in human fragility.
During his tour, he also expressed Pope Leo XIV’s gratitude to family members and healthcare personnel for their service and daily dedication, describing their work as a sign of the Good Samaritan who bends down before those who suffer.
Agenda of the World Day of the Sick
The XXXIV World Day of the Sick, promoted by the universal Church, is celebrated around February 11, the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, patroness of the sick and hope of those who suffer. Peru is hosting the Day in a broad ecclesial context, with the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio in the country, Monsignor Paolo Rocco Gualtieri, bishops, and delegates from the pastoral care of health from more than 20 Latin American and Caribbean episcopal conferences, as well as representatives from the country’s 46 ecclesiastical jurisdictions.
In addition to the hospital visits, the agenda includes spaces for reflection on Christian compassion, palliative care, and the spirituality of integral patient accompaniment, with academic and pastoral encounters at the Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo.
Pastoral and spiritual significance
The World Day of the Sick aims to highlight the dignity of people suffering from illness and the Church’s mission to accompany them with concrete gestures of solidarity and faith. In this framework, the presence of the papal envoy in Chiclayo symbolizes the Pontiff’s closeness to those who suffer and to those who care for them, inviting a renewal of trust in Christ, who transformed the cross into a path of life.
The Day will conclude on February 11 with a solemn Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peace in Chiclayo, presided over by Cardinal Czerny and concelebrated by ecclesiastical authorities from Peru and Latin America.