Message for 2016 World Day of the Sick presented in Vatican

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ message for the 2016 World Day of the Sick was officially presented at a press conference in the Holy See’s Press Office on Thursday. The main speaker was Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Workers, who reminded his listeners that the main Eucharistic celebration of this year's Day of the Sick (marked annually on February 11th) will take place at Nazareth in the Holy Land.

Archbishop Zimowski explained why the Pope has chosen Nazareth for this celebration, noting that it was the place where "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" and where Jesus began his salvific mission.  

“Entrusting Oneself to the Merciful Jesus like Mary” is the theme of this year’s message for the World Day of the Sick and in it Pope Francis reflects on the significance of the gospel account of the wedding feast of Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle through the intervention of his Mother. The Pope writes that faith is a key that helps us to see how illness can be the way to draw nearer to Jesus who walks at our side, weighed down by the Cross. He also says that the World Day of the Sick offers him an opportunity to draw close to those who are ill and to their carers.