Coronavirus: Pope donates 30
respirators to hospitals
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| Pope Francis with his almsgiver, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski |
Pope Francis has destined the respirators to countries such
as Italy and Spain, most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Local bishops
will decide on the hospitals most in need.
By Robin Gomes
Pope Francis on Thursday handed over 30 respirators
purchased in recent days to the Office of Papal Charities to be donated to
intensive care units of hospitals in Italy and Spain that are most affected by
the Covid-19 pandemic.
The bishops of the individual dioceses will hand them over
to the hospitals that will need them most.
This gesture of the Holy Father, which comes ahead of the
prayer service that he is presiding over in the Vatican Friday evening, takes
on a very special significance, amid the pandemic that is raging worldwide.
It is a concrete expression of Christian charity in feeling
together with others and willing to extend a hand to those in need.
The Office of Papal Charities is the department of the Holy
See charged with exercising charity to the poor in the name of the Holy
Father. Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski is currently the Apostolic
Almoner, or papal almsgiver, in charge of the Office of Papal Charities.
Giving with love
"Prayer without charity is not complete," said
Cardinal Krajewski, calling on all to donate according to one’s
means. The purchase of the respirators is a sign that others can
make themselves available to others in need.
The cardinal pointed out that a lady without much means gave
him 50 hand-sewn masks to be donated to the poor. He said, “It's a simple
gesture but of great importance, because that's exactly what is needed: small
gestures that come from the heart.”
Pope reaching out
Earlier, the Office of Papal Charities, in collaboration the
Missionary Centre of the Chinese Church in Italy, sent hundreds of thousands of
masks to Hubei, Zhejiand and Fujian provinces of China, where the virus was
raging.
This week, the Pope’s almsgiver visited two communities of
nuns in Rome hit by the virus. He carried with him some milk products as
a sign of the Pope’s closeness with the nuns.
Cardinal Krajewski's office continues to offer shower
facilities, sleeping quarters, and food assistance to the poor and homeless who
often sleep rough around St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
“Don’t ignore the poor Lazarus who knocks at your door,” he
appealed to all who encounter a homeless person.
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