The following is the text of the Pope’s video with the prayer intention for the month of April, disseminated via the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, on the theme: “Let us pray for health workers who serve the sick and the elderly, especially in the poorest countries; may they be adequately supported by governments and local communities”.

Video of the Holy Father

Let us pray this month for health care workers.

The pandemic has shown us the self-giving and generosity of health care workers, volunteers, support staff, priests and religious men and women.

But the pandemic has also exposed the fact that not everyone has access to a good public healthcare system.

The poorest countries, the most vulnerable countries, cannot access the necessary treatments to treat the countless diseases they continue to suffer.

Often, this is due to poor resource management and a lack of serious political commitment.

Therefore, I want to ask the governments of all the countries of the world not to forget that good healthcare, accessible to all, is a priority.

But let us also remember that healthcare is not just an organization: it depends on men and women who dedicate their life to taking care of other people’s health. And who have given their lives during this pandemic to help so many sick people recover.

Let us pray for healthcare workers who serve the sick and the elderly, especially in the poorest countries; many they be adequately supported by governments and local communities.