Cardinal Parolin: Christ is born every time you welcome sick children
Vatican News
“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.
Excellent care and a human dimension
In the chapel, Cardinal Parolin shared a story about a conversation he had with a parent during his visit to the ward: “He told me that ‘half of healing is due to medical care, and half is the family environment, closeness, and affection.’ This is the wish for Bambino Gesù: not only excellence in care, but also a human dimension.”
The Secretary of State then quoted an Italian poet, Giovanni Papini, who asked himself, “How it can happen that Jesus is born in our hearts?” “It is not impossible,” the Cardinal said. “The day, the poet continues, when you feel that you bring joy or lighten someone’s pain, be glad, because the moment has arrived and the Saviour has been born in your heart. You are no longer alone.”
For Cardinal Parolin, “the same can be said at the Bambino Gesù Hospital: every time attention is given to children and families, every time you carry out your daily work, Jesus is born again.”
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