Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Besides being an immediate and concrete work of the Holy See to help children who are ill, Bambino Gesu Hospital is also an outpost of the evangelising activity of the Christian community in this city of ours. Here you can offer concrete and effective testimony of the Gospel in contact with suffering humanity; here with facts you proclaim the power of Christ and his Spirit who heals and transforms human existence. Let us pray that, together with the cure, the love of Jesus is imparted to the young guests”, Pope Benedict XVI said during his visit on 30 September to the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome where he was welcomed by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, Camillo Ruini, Vicar of Christ for the diocese of Rome, Francesco Marchisano, adminstration advisor, Francesco Silvano, president of the hospital; managing Director Massimo Spina, and medical director Dr. Tommaso Langiano. After visiting a number of the hospital's departments and greeting many sick children and their families, and stopping for a prayer in the chapel, the Pope moved to the lecture hall where he greeted the hospital president, members of the administrative council, medical staff and the civil authorities.
Benedict XVI thanked them for their commitment and warm welcome and said he chose to make his first hospital official visit to Bambino Gesù for two reasons: because this institution belongs to the Holy See," and "so that I too can bear witness to Jesus' love for children. ... In everyone who suffers, even more so if they are small and defenseless, there is Jesus Who welcomes us and awaits our love."
The Pope praised the quality of care offered to patients and family members: “Here you concern yourselves with ensuring excellent treatment, not just from the point of view of healthcare, but also in human terms. You strive to be a family for the patients and accompanying persons and this calls for contribution from all...this approach, which is valid for all healthcare centers, must especially distinguish those that are inspired by evangelical principles. No resource must be spared in helping children. At the centre of every project and programme there must also be the good of the patient, the child who is ill”. In this difficult mission the Pope encouraged those present to see in every patient the face of Christ and to draw spiritual strength from Jesus truly present in the Eucharist, “to comfort and care for the patients”. At the end of his address the Pope invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Salus infirmorum - Health of the Infirm Mother of the Child Jesus and all children, that she may protect the patients, families, staff and doctors, the entire hospital community. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 3/10/2005, righe 33, parole 473)
