The children of the Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary, a space that offers free pediatric care to low-income minors in the Vatican, celebrated an early Christmas and Pope Francis’ birthday with gifts and a cake with candles.
This Sunday, after praying the Angelus, the Holy Father shared his experience in the dispensary run by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul: “So many children there have filled my heart with joy. I repeat: ‘No child is a mistake!’”.
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The Pope also took the opportunity to salute the work of the Vincentian nuns: “What good nuns they are!” he commented.
He also highlighted the role of Sister Antonietta Collacchi, who for many years directed the Dispensary and whom everyone “remembers with so much love.”
According to Vatican News, this traditional visit is promoted by this Dispensary which, for 102 years, has supported communities in need with pediatric care and donations.
The Vatican media also reported that, after the Pope received a gift and blew out the candles on the cake, the celebration continued in the atrium of the Paul VI Hall with animations, games, photos with Santa Claus and the delivery of gifts, which included toys , food, panettone and a calendar.
At the end, a packed lunch was offered with pizza, nuggets, muffins and fruit.
Diego Lopez Marina
I was born in 1991. I have a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2015 I have worked as a digital journalist. I started my career at the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio. In 2016, I started as an editor at ACI Prensa and I have worked as a web editor since 2018. Starting in 2024, I write the newsletter for social media. I specialize in Catholic news focused on the defense of life and family, international politics, technology, popular culture and the Vatican.