Vatican City: Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said that Christ is born again every time sick children are welcomed with care and love, during his Christmas visit to the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital on Tuesday.
Speaking to doctors, nurses, hospital staff, patients and their families gathered in the hospital chapel, Cardinal Parolin said the hospital truly reflects the spirit of Christmas. He noted that Jesus becomes present whenever attention, compassion and care are offered to the smallest and most vulnerable. He also conveyed the Pope’s greetings and Christmas wishes to the entire hospital community.
During his visit, the Cardinal met hospital leaders and staff and later went to the Pulmonology and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, where he greeted young patients and spoke with their families. He spent time listening to their experiences and offered words of comfort and encouragement.
Sharing a personal moment from the visit, Cardinal Parolin recalled a conversation with a parent who told him that healing is not only the result of medical treatment but also of family closeness, affection and care. The Cardinal said this balance between professional excellence and human warmth is what gives true meaning to the hospital’s mission.
In his reflection, Cardinal Parolin referred to the words of Italian writer Giovanni Papini, who wrote that Jesus is born in the human heart whenever someone brings joy or eases another person’s pain. He said this message is lived every day at the Bambino Gesù Hospital, where care for children and support for families make Christ present once again.
He concluded by thanking all those who serve at the hospital, saying that through their daily dedication and compassion, they keep the true spirit of Christmas alive throughout the year.