Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin commended the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome for combining medical excellence with deep compassion during a conference held on Tuesday, October 28. The event celebrated the hospital’s 40th anniversary as a recognized Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization, and Healthcare, drawing researchers, doctors, and Church leaders.
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin
Cardinal Parolin described care and research as “paths of the same calling,” emphasising that the institution never turns away anyone, even children arriving from war-affected regions. He said this unwavering commitment reflects the Church’s mission to touch “the suffering flesh of Christ” through service to those in pain and distress.
According to Vatican News, the facility currently treats 31 young patients from conflict zones, including Palestine, while providing shelter, medical support, and emotional care for their families. Its new 700-square-meter gene therapy laboratory was also inaugurated during the occasion, marking a significant step in pediatric cancer and immunology research for rare diseases.
The hospital’s president, Tiziano Onesti, highlighted the importance of sustainability, innovation, and universality in healthcare. Cardinal Parolin concluded by urging stronger collaboration uniting faith, science, and charity—values that, he said, embody the spirit of the “Pope’s hospital” and continue to inspire healing, resilience, and hope for vulnerable children around the world.