“They lowered him on the stretcher in front of Jesus: The role of the community in caring for every person” is the theme chosen by Pope Leo XIV for the 35th World Day of the Sick, to be celebrated on 11 February 2027, on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announced the theme in a statement on Thursday, 5 November. It draws inspiration from the Gospel of Luke, which tells of a paralytic brought to Jesus by a group of people who, overcoming the obstacles before them, lower him through the roof so he can be healed.

“Every Christian community, together with civil society, is called to attend to the weakness and suffering of others,” the statement says, adding that “In the Gospel passage, community members join together to bring the one who is suffering to the source of physical and spiritual healing.”

 “At the heart of our baptismal call,” it concludes, “is the commandment of mutual love: love your neighbor, take care of your neighbor.  Like the friends of the paralytic, parishes and Christian communities are called to assume the responsibility of caring for those who are alone, the elderly, and those who suffer, creating spaces of closeness and of hope.”