By Charles Igwe
This weekend, more than 20,000 pilgrims from 90 countries, including patients, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals, gathered in Rome for the Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers, one of the major events of the 2025 Jubilee Year. The two-day celebration, which began on April 5, featured moments of prayer, reflection, and a group pilgrimage along Via della Conciliazione to the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, providing participants with an opportunity for spiritual renewal. According to the Dicastery for Evangelization, Italy had the largest delegation, but pilgrims also arrived from the United States, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, France, Mexico, Germany, Croatia, the Philippines, Peru, Australia, Chile, Ethiopia, Canada, and Cameroon, among other nations. Several international healthcare organizations took part in the event, including Fratres, a Catholic association that promotes blood donation; ANED, which supports home hemodialysis for kidney disease patients; the Italian Catholic Physicians Association; Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital; and the Pharmaceutical Bank Foundation.
The jubilee began on Saturday, April 5, with pilgrims making their way to the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, a moment of profound spiritual reflection that also presented an opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence. Those unable to attend in Rome were also able to obtain this grace by visiting other sacred sites, such as the major papal basilicas or venerated locations in the Holy Land, dedicating time to Eucharistic adoration and meditation. In the afternoon, Rome hosted a series of public discussions known as “Dialogues with the City,” held in various historic locations. One of the key gatherings was “The Value of Gift and Solidarity,” which took place in Piazza di Spagna, featuring Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, alongside Italian Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci, Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, and Lazio Regional President Francesco Rocca, who addressed themes of healthcare, solidarity, and social responsibility. Meanwhile, the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross hosted an international conference titled “Hospice = Hope,” which explored the importance of comprehensive care for chronically ill and end-of-life patients.
In addition to these discussions, various medical and social initiatives were carried out throughout the day. The American Heart Association conducted a multilingual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course, while Fratres organized a blood donation drive from early morning until early afternoon. Health education sessions were held throughout the day, followed by awareness programs focused on addiction prevention and treatment, organized by the Vicariate of Rome. At St. Monica Church in Piazza Sant’Uffizio, a special conference honored the life of Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro, a medical student who succumbed to a rare illness. Her sister, Emanuela Bianchi Porro, and Father Andrea Vena, postulator of her canonization cause, shared insights into her journey of faith and suffering.
The jubilee also featured prayer and catechesis sessions across various churches, focusing on saints dedicated to caring for the sick. At Santa Maria del Suffragio, pilgrims reflected on the legacy of Blessed Luigi Novarese in a discussion titled “Finding Blessing When Life Is Fraught with Fragility.” At Santa Maria Maddalena, the session “In the Footsteps of St. Camillo de Lellis: The Heart Unifies a Fragmented Life” explored the saint’s unwavering commitment to the suffering. A parallel session at San Gregorio VII Church, organized by the Pharmaceutical Bank Foundation, centered on the theme “Caring and Being Cared For: Where Does Our Hope Lie?” and featured contributions from Msgr. Andrea Manto, Episcopal Vicar for Healthcare Ministry in Rome; Sergio Daniotti, President of the Pharmaceutical Bank; and Giorgio Bordin, President of Medicine and Person. At the Pontifical Lateran University, a conference sponsored by the Italian Bishops’ Conference and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart examined the vital role of patient associations in fostering a more humane and inclusive healthcare system.
As the Jubilee of the Sick concludes today, Sunday, April 6, the event reaches its climax with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square, celebrated by Archbishop Fisichella. Though Pope Francis remains in convalescence at Casa Santa Marta following his recent hospitalization, he has prepared a homily that will be read during the liturgy. His message is expected to offer words of hope and encouragement to the sick and healthcare workers, reinforcing the spirit of compassion and unity that the jubilee embodies.
