VATICAN - The Pope entrusts World Day for the Sick to Our Lady: “May the Blessed Virgin Mary watch over those taking part in the various events in Lourdes in the next few days: meetings on Health Pastoral in Europe and the special relationship between Immaculate Mary and the sick”

Vatican City (Fides Service) – The World Day for the Sick was the subject of the Pope John Paul II’s reflection before the Angelus prayer on Sunday 8 February. This year the principal Mass for the Day on 11 February feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, will be held in Lourdes where Mary appeared to little Bernardette Soubirous and when the young girl asked her name Mary said she was "the Immaculate Conception". This year is the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of this dogma of Catholic Faith by Pius IX.
“We know there is a close bond between Our Lady of Lourdes and the world of suffering and sickness– the Pope said - . The sick have always played a leading role at the grotto of Massabielle, and as the years passed Lourdes became the town of life and hope”. The Holy Father asked Our Lady to watch over those taking part in various events in Lourdes, entrusting especially to the Most Holy Virgin “the solemn celebration of the Eucharist presided by my special Envoy Cardinal Lozano Barragan, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral.”
After the Angelus the Pope greeted various from different countries groups including Italian workers from Terni steel works, “on a pilgrimage to call attention to the employment crisis in that large industrial zone”. The Holy Father reminded those present that he made his first visit as Pope to an Italian factory to the steel works in Terni on 19 March 1981, and he said he prayed that “a just solution” would be found for the workers and their families.
(S.L.) (Fides Service 9/2/2004 – lines 18; words 241)