Cardinal Parolin visits Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital in Rome

(Vatican Radio)  Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, visited Rome’s Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital on Saturday, thanking the staff for their gift of love for the patients, most of whom are children.

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The purpose of the Cardinal Secretary of State’s visit was to offer his and Pope Francis’ traditional Christmas wishes. 

He also took the opportunity to remind the staff that their true mission is to give sick children their gift of a love full of tenderness.

“I come here with the desire to perform an act of mercy,” he said. “Works of mercy are above all for the benefit of the one who performs them. The Lord promised that every act of charity which we perform for the least of our brothers – and these are especially sick children, who have a greater need – would receive the recompense of His love and of Himself.”

Cardinal Parolin thanked them for their dedication to the works of mercy, saying “A very big thank you. Thank you for what you do; thank you for the passion which sets you apart.”

He also reminded them of Pope Francis’ care and gratitude for them and their work.  “Know that you are watched, followed, and supported by the interest and gratitude of the Vicar of Christ. Here there are many, wonderful people who take care of this hospital. The Pope has faith in them because their work is done with intelligence, wisdom, and research for the best cures to give an equitable and satisfactory solution to a multitude of problems.”

After speaking to the children, their families, and the staff, Cardinal Parolin made his rounds of the hospital. 

He made a special stop at the chapel as the nuns and chaplains of the hospital showed him the ‘Holy Door of Hope’, realized in occasion of the Jubilee Year and based on drawings by some of the hospital’s patients.

Another Holy Door was opened in the Bambino Gesù Polidoro campus on Thursday.