Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Genoa (Agenzia Fides) - At 9am on Sunday, May 18, the Holy Father Benedict XVI made a private visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Guard in Cerànesi-Campomorrone. After adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, the Pope said a prayer before an image of the Virgin, placing a golden rose at her feet, as a memory of his visit. He immediately left to visit Gaslini Hospital where he greeted children and their parents in Pavilion 16 and presented the Chaplain with a gift for the children and later continued his visit, entering the front plaza of the hospital for an encounter with its directors, medical personnel, nurses, and hospitalized children and their relatives.
“Gaslini Hospital was established thanks to the generous heart of a benefactor, industrialist and Senator, Gerolamo Gaslini, who dedicated this initiative to his daughter who died just after having turned 12, and is now part of the history of charity that made Genoa a “city of Christian charity,” the Holy Father stated in his address. Today, as well, faith inspires many people of good will to perform acts of love and of concrete support for this Institute and it is with understandable pride, that Genoese look upon it as a precious heritage. I thank you all and encourage you to continue.”
Addressing the doctors, researchers, paramedics, and administration, as well as the chaplains, volunteers, and all those responsible for the spiritual assistance of the children staying there and there families, the Pope spoke of their joint effort to “make the Gaslini Institute be an authentic ‘sanctuary of life’ and ‘sanctuary of the family,’ where along with the professionality of workers in every area, there is also affection and personal attention. The decision of the Founder to make the Archbishop pro tempore of Genoa the President of the Foundation, manifests the desire that the Christian inspiration of the Institute never fade and that all may be established upon Gospel values.” Referring to this expressed desire of the Founder, Benedict XVI recalled that “radiating goodness through the affectionate care of the young patients is the purpose of this hospital,” expressing his hope that “this excellent Pediatric Institute may continue in its technological advancement, in its care and services; but also broaden its horizons towards the quest for positive globalization that allows for an acknowledgement of resources, services, and needs by creating and reinforcing a network of solidarity that is so urgently needed in this day and age.”
In order for this health center to become “a place of hope,” it is not enough only to focus on specialization in the pediatric field, for which it is very well-known and esteemed, but rather it is “indispensable that this hope be sustained by a higher vision of life, which allows the scientist, the doctor, the professional, the assistant, and the parents themselves to use all their capacities, sparing no effort, to obtain the best results that science and technology can offer in both prevention and cure. This is how to make present the thought of the silent presence of God, who accompanies man in an almost unperceived manner on his path in history. The true and ‘reliable’ hope is only God, who in Jesus Christ and His Gospel opens the dark door of time for us to the future.”
After recalling Jesus’ special love for children, as is seen in the Gospel, the Holy Father addressed the children hospitalized there: “The Pope loves you a great deal. Next to you I see your relatives, who share these moments of trepidation and hope with you. Be sure that God never abandons us. Remain united to Him and you will never lose your serenity, not even in the darkest and most difficult moments. I assure you of my prayers and I entrust you to the Blessed Virgin Mary.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 19/5/2008; righe 46, parole 635)
