“It is not good that man should be alone—Healing the Sick by Healing Relationships,” is the theme of Pope Francis’ message for the 2024 commemoration of the World Day of the Sick, held on 11 February.

February 11 also coincides with the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is the anniversary of when Our Blessed Mother appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France. Our Blessed Mother’s many visitations to St. Bernadette resulted in the miraculous waters from the springs at Lourdes where thousands of faith-filled sick have been healed.

World Day of the Sick is held every year on this date and as a theme for this year, Pope Francis uses the words from Genesis that God spoke after creating the first human, “It is not good that man should be alone.”