A helicopter with Pope Benedict XVI onboard leaves the Vatican in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. The 85-year-old German Pope Benedict is stepping down on Thursday evening, the first pope to do so in 600 years, after saying he no longer has the mental or physical strength to vigorously lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Children’s Hospital to Use Vatican Helipad For Patient Transport
Pope Francis Expressed Joy in Agreement to Help Sick Children Be Saved
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
Vatican City State, July 20, 2015 (ZENIT.org)
Pope Francis has expressed his joy and approval of an agreement which will be of great help to children.
Thanks to an agreement reached Friday between the Governatorate of the Vatican City State and Rome’s Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, the medical facility will be allowed –in urgent cases–to use the heliport located in the Vatican Gardens to transport patients, personnel and medical equipment, reported Vatican Radio.
In a communiqué on the accord, the children’s hospital’s president, Mariella Enoc, said, “It is an important gesture of charity that responds to a basic health need: the physical proximity between the Vatican City State and our seat on the Janiculum Hill, in fact, will significantly shorten transport times, contributing in many cases to saving the lives of children.”
“We are grateful to the Holy See, the Secretary of State and the Governatorate in particular, in the person of the Vatican City State’s Secretary General, Bishop Fernando Vergez Alzaga, for this opportunity, which is given to the Bambino Gesù hospital.” He noted how much this means especially “to the many young patients from all over Italy, who unfortunately need urgently to reach our hospital.”
The head of Bambino Gesu also personally thanked Commandant Domenico Giani, the head of the Vatican Gendarmerie, saying he “worked so hard in a spirit of cooperation to achieve this result.”
According to its website, Bambino Gesù is the largest pediatric hospital and research center in Europe, with connections to leading international centers in the sector. The hospital has a staff of almost 2,600, including physicians, researchers, nurses, clinical technicians and office staff, and treats and cares for a large number of patients. Each year, its statistics show, Bambino Gesu provides children and adolescents from around the world more than 1.55 million healthcare services.
***
On the NET:
English Website of Rome’s Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital: http://www.ospedalebambinogesu.it/en/home