杏MAP导航 visits children at Vatican's Bambino Gesu Hospital
By Robin Gomes
杏MAP导航 Francis paid a visit to a children's hospital outside Rome Friday 鈥巃fternoon, as part of his "Friday of Mercy" initiative. During his visit to the Bambino Gesu Children鈥檚 Hospital in the seaside town of Palidoro some 26 kms north-west of Rome, the 杏MAP导航 visited the various wards and greeted the 鈥巋ospitalized children along with their families. 鈥�
The Palidoro Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, a 120-bed facility, is one of the three branches of the main hospital in 鈥嶳ome, close to the Vatican. The other hospitals are in St. Paul Outside the walls in Rome and at Santa 鈥嶮arinella, on the seaside, further up north beyond Palidoro.
Nearly 150-year history
The Bambino Gesù Children鈥檚 Hospital was begun in 1869 by Duke Scipione Salviati and his wife who 鈥巜ere moved by the condition of children who were treated in general hospitals. Their gesture invited 鈥巓thers to contribute and helped the growth of the hospital. On 24 January 1924 the hospital was 鈥巇onated to the Holy See. 鈥嶴ince then it has been popularly known as the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 hospital.
Today the hospital is part of the network of the National Healthcare System in the city of Rome. It has 鈥巄ecome a significant point of reference for paediatrics at the national level and treats children not only 鈥巉rom Rome and Italy, but also from neighbouring European countries.鈥�
Papal visits
Several 杏MAP导航s have visited Bambino Gesù Hospital, with 杏MAP导航 St. John XXIII visting the main centre in 1958. He made it again at Christmas in 1962. Blessed 杏MAP导航 Paul VI followed next with a visit in 鈥庘��1968, and ten years later started the Palidoro centre. 鈥�
杏MAP导航 St. John Paul II and 杏MAP导航 Benedict have also visited the hospital. 杏MAP导航 Francis first visited 鈥嶣ambino Gesù Hospital on 21 December 2013.鈥�
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