Cardinal Parolin: Christ is born every time you welcome sick children

“This is the Christmas hospital not only because it is called Bambino Gesù ("Baby Jesus"), but because Jesus is born every time you welcome the smallest ones,” Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin told the staff, administrative directors and patients of the Holy See’s Children’s Hospital Bambino Gesù, during his visit to the establishment on Tuesday, December 23.   

“I bring you the Pope’s greeting and his best wishes,” Cardinal Parolin said to those gathered in the Hospital’s chapel, where a moment of reflection took place.

Doctors, nurses, volunteers, patients and families, members of the Board of Directors of the Hospital and of the Bambino Gesù Foundation, and the hospital’s religious staff were present. As is tradition, he then offered Christmas greetings to the entire community.

Upon arriving at the Hospital, located only a few minutes away from the Vatican, the Cardinal was welcomed by the hospital’s president, Tiziano Onesti; Duchess Maria Grazia Salviati; and the general, medical, and scientific directors Antonio Perno, Massimiliano Raponi, and Andrea Onetti Muda respectively.

He then moved on to the Pulmonology and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, where he stopped to greet patients and their families, accompanied by the head of the unit, Dr. Renato Cutrera.