Camillians

Clerics Regular, Ministers to the Sick

Latin: Clerci Regulari Ministeri Infirmaribus
Camillian red cross
Abbreviation	MI
Nickname	Camillians
Formation	1586; 438 years ago (1586)
Founder	Camillus de Lellis
Founded at	Rome
Type	Order of clerics regular of pontifical right (for men)
Region served	Worldwide
Members	1,080
Ministry	Care for the sick
Parent organization	Catholic Church
Website	www.camilliani.org

The Camillians or Clerics Regular, Ministers to the Sick (Latin: Clerci Regulari Ministeri Infirmaribus) are a Catholic religious order founded in 1582 by St. Camillus de Lellis (1550-1614). A large red cross was chosen by the founder as the distinguishing badge for the members of the Order to wear upon their black cassocks, which was later adopted as the international symbol of medical care. In the past, because of the red cross on their apparel, they were also referred to as the Crociferi. As of 2018, 1080 Camillians serve in 35 countries. They use the postnominal initials of M.I. (Ministri degli Infermi).