Pope's visit to Gemelli children

Pope Benedict XVI has completed a vsit to Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he blessed a ward dedicated to the care and treatment of children living with spina bifida. Named after the renowned Franciscan friar, physician and psychologist, Agostino Gemelli, who founded the medical centre in 1959, the Policlinico – as it is called in Italian, is a major teaching hospital in Rome.

Gemelli is where Pope John Paul II was taken after the attempt on his life in 1981, and where he received care on many subsequent occasions, including treatment during his final illness.

Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the hospital on Wednesday had a twofold purpose: to bless the recently expanded ward dedicated to the treatment of children with spina bifida and to include time with the children being treated in the Pediatric Ward of the facility, along with their parents.

On the eve of the Solemnity of the Epiphany, the children of the ward welcomed the Holy Father and one little girl offered words of greeting to him on behalf of all the young patients in the hospital.

Pope Benedict then greeted hospital staff and offered words of encouragement to the children and their families.

He told the children in particular that they were in his prayers and that he came to give them strength in order to help them overcome their illnesses.


The Holy Father also added that the Baby in the crib was sent by God to show us show much we are loved by him and concluded his speech by encouraging those institutions who are committed to the service of life.
Rounding off this visit to the Gemelli and to the delight of the children each and every child in the ward was given a Christmas gift from the Pope. Listen to report here