(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis made a visit to the Bambin Gesù pediatric hospital on
Saturday afternoon, touring the facility and visiting with the young patients of the
care centre and with their families, as well as with medical professionals, other
staff and administrators. He was welcomed in the courtyard of the facility by as many
as four thousand well-wishers. During the course of the visit, Pope Francis received
the Christmas wishes of the young patients, promising prayers for their healing and
offering words of encouragement. "Dear children," said Pope Francis, "I thank you
for [sharing] your dreams and your prayers [with me]," which the youngsters had written
on paper and collected in a basket that they then gave him. "Thank you very much,"
he said, adding, "we present them together to Jesus: He knows them better than anyone
- He knows what is in our heart of hearts. Especially with you children, Jesus has
a special bond: He is always close to you." Founded in 1869, the Bambin Gesù hospital
has developed a high level of expertise in treating children coming not only from
Rome or Italy, but also from neighbouring European countries. Pope Francis’ visit
continues a tradition that began in 1958, when Bl. John XXIII visited the hospital
for the first time: Paul VI visited the hospital in January 1968; Bl. John Paul II
continued the tradition in January of 1979; Benedict XVI visited the hospital in September
of 2005.
A highlight of the Holy Father's visit this 21 December, 2013, was
the scheduled presentation of the hospital's "Francis House" initiative. Named after
Pope Francis, the Francis House is to be a place of welcome, safety and integral care
for mothers and children on the margins of society with dangerous family situations.
The Francis House project aims at building a place and creating an environment in
which both mothers and children will receive acceptance, psychological and social
support and help with education, with a view to making guest-families able to stand
on their own feet.