As the Church marks the 33rd World Day of the Sick, on Feb-ruary 11, the Chair of the Irish Bishops’ Conference Council for Healthcare has reiterated that human dignity must remain at the core of healthcare practices. “Upholding the dignity and rights of each person is essential in healthcare,” remarked  Bishop Michael Router, in a statement in which he expresses concern over the gradual erosion of this principle in Ireland.
Welcoming Pope Francis’ recent message for the observance of the Day, the Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh highlights the Jubilee theme of hope as a sustaining force in times of suffering. Pope Francis – he explains – calls for a renewed perspective on illness: not as an isolated struggle “but as an opportunity to encounter God, to receive His gifts, and to share His love with others.” The presence of caregivers, medical professionals, family members, or friends,  says Bishop Router,  is a tangible expression of that love showing that “suffering is not an isolated journey but one that unites us in faith, love, and solidarity.”