February 11, 2026 / የካቲት 4, 2018
The Crown Council of Ethiopia, in its capacity as the Constitutional body which advises the reigning Emperors of Ethiopia and, during an interregnum, acts in the authority of the Crown — its members initially appointed by an Emperor and subsequently sustained or replaced under the direction of the President of the Council — pauses in its deliberations and works of good order to issue this Proclamation:
We, His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, Prince of Ethiopia, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, Protector of Ethiopian Heritage, by the Grace of God and the Trust of History,
In the spirit of Christian charity and mindful of the sacred duty owed to the suffering, do hereby proclaim and join in the observance of the World Day of the Sick on the Eleventh Day of February in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-Six, Yektatit (የካቲት) 4, 2018, in the Ethiopian Calendar, a day hallowed by prayer, healing, and hope.
This annual ecumenical observance, instituted by Saint Pope John Paul II in 1992, calls the faithful, and all people of good heart and good will, to unite in prayer and solidarity with those burdened by illness, infirmity, poverty, and isolation, and to honor with gratitude those who care for them with devotion, sacrifice, and compassion.
Under the theme for the 2026 observance, “The compassion of the Samaritan: Loving by bearing the pain of others,” the world is invited to renew its examination the conscience of mind and provide a concrete response to the Gospel mandate of mercy.
This year marks the Thirty-Fourth World Day of the Sick, to be solemnly commemorated through special Masses, prayers, and works of mercy throughout the world. On this occasion, we join with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who has called upon all the faithful to become true neighbors to those who suffer, offering not only words of comfort, but presence, accompaniment, and enduring support. And, in this call, we embrace Ethiopians of all Faiths and traditions hallowed through the Empire.
This eleventh day stands as a solemn reminder that authentic greatness is found in faithful and humble service, and that compassion must be made visible through actions and deeds.
Therefore, We do exhort and encourage all faithful members, institutions, and communities to observe this day with prayer, acts of charity, and a renewed commitment to the dignified care of the sick and vulnerable, that no one who suffers may feel forgotten or alone.
Given under Our Hand and Seal,
at Our Crown Council,
on this Fourth Day of Yekatit (የካቲት)
in the Year of Our Lord, 2018.
