Pope's Christmas greetings to
Santa Marta Dispensary
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| Pope Francis during audience with children and family from the dispensary of Saint Marta.- ANSA |
Pope Francis greets families and staff from the Santa Marta
Dispensary and is presented with a cake for his Birthday
For over ninety years the Santa Marta Dispensary has
provided medical assistance to children and families in need and is based just
a stone’s throw away from the Pope’s residence inside the Vatican.
The Dispensary was established in 1922 by Pope Pius XI, and
was visited by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2005. In the Paul VI hall on
Sunday, Pope Francis was greeted by 800 people, including volunteers, doctors,
nurses and families assisted by the Dispensary.
Children teach us to humble ourselves
In words of thanks to those gathered, the Pope said that if
Our Lady had lived in Rome she would have taken Jesus to this dispensary, for
sure. The Pope noted that “working with children is not easy, but it teaches us
a lot”, he said. “It teaches me one thing: that in order to understand the
reality of life, you have to lower yourself, as we lower ourselves to kiss a
child. They teach us this. The proud, the proud cannot understand life, because
they are not able to lower themselves. “All of us” , Pope Francis continued,
“professionals, organizers, nuns, all - give many things to children, but they
give us this announcement, this teaching: to lower oneself. Lower yourself, be
humble, and in this way you will learn to understand life and people. And all
of you have this ability to lower yourselves. Thank you so much for this, thank
you so much!”
Christmas and Birthday greetings
On the occasion of the Pope’s Birthday, which he celebrates
on December 17th, a large cake had been prepared. After wishing everyone a
Merry Christmas, Pope Francis joked, “I hope there is no indigestion with that
big cake!”
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