Outcry from the Catholic Church over a baby found dead in a thermal crib in an Italian parish

An archbishop and a parish priest raised their voices to heaven after the discovery of a dead baby, almost a month old, in the thermal crib of a parish in the city of Bari, in Italy.

Although the facts are not yet completely clear, local police are already investigating what happened on January 1, when around 9:30 p.m. (local time), a male baby, wrapped in a light blue blanket, was found dead in the crib. thermal of the San Juan Bautista parish, without it having activated the alarm that usually works when it receives a child.

According to the newspaper Futureof the Italian bishops, the parish priest Antonio Ruccia explains that his “mobile phone connected to the crib did not ring”, which would be due to the fact that the baby placed in the crib would have already been dead or that when he left the room where the crib is , the person who left it would not have closed the door.

The baby was found by the owner of a funeral home, Roberto Savarese, who had arrived at the church for a funeral and wanted to show the thermal crib to a collaborator. He was the one who notified the authorities.

Ciro Angelillis, deputy prosecutor, has already opened an investigation for abandonment of a minor with the aggravating circumstance of death

The priest also comments that “someone has played with the life of a child. In my opinion he was already dead: if he had been alive, the door would not have been left open, it would have been closed and the notification would have gone off immediately.”

Paradoxically, he said, “this is proof that our church’s thermal crib is useful.”

Savarese also recalled “the joy I felt two years ago, when a girl stayed there: she was beautiful and I am happy that today she has a family.”

The word of the Archbishop of Bari for the baby found dead

Bishop Giuseppe Satriano, Archbishop of Bari Bitonto, wrote a reflection entitled “A tragedy that questions us at the heart of Christmas”, in which he states that “the unnamed newborn (…) is a denied life expectancy and represents the culmination of a series of fragilities and social difficulties, which often do not emerge in the light of the spotlight. It is an urgent reminder for all of us: no life, from conception to the last breath, should be abandoned to indifference”.

“It is an invitation to a stronger collective commitment to provide support to those in vulnerable conditions, to build a society that leaves no one behind, even in the most difficult situations,” he adds.

As pastor of this community, the prelate continued, “I suffer with you the loss of a tender life, and I feel pain for what was experienced by those who placed that little body in the thermal crib of the parish. Both are the result of a throwaway culture that inexorably makes its way into a world that is increasingly closed in on itself and that pays little attention to the weakest and most fragile.”

Masses for the deceased baby on January 6, Solemnity of the Epiphany

After inviting a personal and collective reflection on what happened, the archbishop asked that “on Monday, January 6, the solemnity of the Epiphany and a day dedicated to missionary childhood, in the Eucharistic celebrations efforts should be made to remember this child and the tragic event.” of his death in the prayers of the faithful.”

In Italy, Avvenire indicates, there are currently 64 active thermal cribs; safe places for babies, as soon as they are placed and thanks to the 24-hour connection they have, they are attended to immediately.

In the thermal crib of the San Giovanni Battista parish you can read the following: “No child is a mistake. If you are in a difficult situation and cannot take care of your child, leave him in the thermal crib.”