Vatican City, 21 December 2013: Pope Francis visited Rome’s Bambino Gesù pediatric
hospital on Saturday evening. During his short visit, the Pontiff met with the young
patients of the care centre, their families, medical professionals, other staff and
administrators of the Children’s hospital.
On his arrival, Pope Francis was
welcomed in the courtyard of hospital by about four thousand well-wishers. During
the visit, Pope Francis received the Christmas wishes of the young patients, and promised
his prayers for their healing and offered them 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 and
given to 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.Source: VR Eng