Thailand’s Diocese of Chiang Rai marked the World Day of the Sick with a Eucharistic Liturgy at the Holy Spouses of Mary and Joseph Church in Pang Rimkorn, about 30 kilometers from the Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral.
The gathering was dedicated to praying for the health of Pope Francis and offering spiritual support to the sick. More than 500 patients, including many in wheelchairs accompanied by relatives, attended the liturgy.
The participants, primarily from the Akha and Lahu Indigenous communities across parishes and mission stations in northern Thailand, joined the observance. Among them were 20 children with disabilities from the Camillian Center.
A key part of the celebration was the anointing of the sick, along with the granting of the Jubilee indulgence. Special prayers were also offered for Pope Francis, who has recently been facing health challenges.
Before the Eucharistic celebration, a pilgrimage procession took place, carrying the cross up the hill to the altar in front of the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The grotto, located about 500 meters from the foot of the hill, was the site for invoking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In his homily, Bishop Joseph Vuthilert Haelom urged the faithful to place their trust in God. “Everyone should have hope and be glad in God’s mercy towards us, giving us the strength to live according to His will,” he said.
“We all have illnesses, both physical and, more importantly, emotional illnesses. God’s blessing allows us to live with that sickness, and if it is His will, we will be relieved and reach our ultimate hope of being one with Him forever,” the prelate added.
The World Day of the Sick, instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1992, is observed annually on Feb. 11, coinciding with the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
It serves as a call for the Catholic community to pray for and support those suffering from illness and to reaffirm the Church’s mission of care.
In his message for this year’s observance, Pope Francis reflected on the theme “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5) and its role in times of trial.
He emphasized the importance of hope in facing illness and suffering, urging the faithful to care for the sick with love and faith.
He also noted that physical ailments often bring emotional and spiritual burdens, making hope a sustaining force for the afflicted and those accompanying them.
