John of God, OH, was a Portuguese soldier turned health-care worker in Spain, whose followers later formed the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God, a worldwide Catholic religious institute dedicated to the care of the sick, poor, and those with mental disorders. John has been canonized by the Catholic Church, and is considered one of the leading religious figures in the Iberian Peninsula.
John of God died on his 55th birthday, in Granada, on March 8, 1550. John died of pneumonia after he had plunged into a river to save a young man from drowning. His body was initially buried in the Church of Our Lady of the Victories, belonging to the Minim friars, and remained there until November 28, 1664, when the Hospitallers had his relics moved to the church of their hospital in the city,
John of God was canonized by Pope Alexander VIII on October 16, 1690, and later named the patron saint of hospitals and the sick. His feast day is celebrated on March 8. In 1757, a church was erected in to house his remains. On October 26, that year, the remains were transferred to that church, now protected by the Knights of Saint John of God. This church has been raised to the rank of a basilica.
The Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God maintain a presence in 53 countries, operating more than 300 hospitals, services, and centers serving a range of medical needs in addition to mental health and psychiatry. They are made up of more than 45,000 members, Brothers and Co-workers, and are also supported by tens of thousands of benefactors and friends who identify with and support the work of the Order for sick and needy people across the world.