"My stay in Kraków would not be complete if I didn't visit the young patients of the Children's University Hospital in Kraków. I wish I could visit every sick child, embrace them, listen to them, and sit together in silence, pondering questions that have no immediate answers. And pray," said Pope Francis during his visit at the hospital on 29 July 2016.
The Children's University Hospital in Kraków is the only hospital in Poland visited by two popes. Twenty five years ago, it was visited by Pope Saint John Paul II. "The fact that it's the second papal visit makes us feel very special. We're honoured. Pope Francis is greatly respected among our staff. His attitude towards the sick and the disadvantaged is shared by our doctors and nurses. We're very happy he accepted our invitation," said Dr hab. Maciej Kowalczyk, head of the hospital.
"Welcome to a hospital which often is the last hope of many young patients. Holy Father, we believe that your presence, your words and your prayers will help our patients overcome their illnesses and console their families. We believe that they will strengthen our staff's resolve to provide assistance for those who are in need," said Dr hab. Maciej Kowalczyk.
The first part of the visit took place in the main hall, where Pope Francis met with children diagnosed with neurological, oncological, and cardiological illnesses as well as their parent. "How I wish that we, as Christians, would always be able to stay at the side of the sick, just as Jesus did: with an embrace, silence and prayer. Our society is plagued with the ‘culture of rejection', which is the opposite of the ‘culture of hospitality'. The victims of rejection are the poor, the sick, and the disadvantaged. It's good to see that those who need help will receive it here. Thank you for this display of love. This is a sign of true Christianity: to put the most disadvantaged people at the heart of the social and political discourse," said the Pope.
The Pope then visited the patients in worst condition. He also prayed in the hospital's chapel, where a copy of the famous painting of Our Lady of Perpetual Help has been located since 1986. The original can be found in the Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori in Rome.
The memories of Pope Saint John Paul II are still vivid in the hospital. In his speech, he called the hospital a "sanctuary of human suffering," which was "born out of love and solidarity" and is "a place of good deeds".
The Children's University Hospital in Kraków is the largest paediatric facility in southern Poland. It was originated by members of Polish diaspora and later funded by the United States government. The first patients were admitted in 1966. Since its first years, the hospital was an important scientific and educational centre, working in close collaboration with leading international hospitals. Thanks to cooperation with Project Hope Foundation, numerous workshops, internships and trainings were organised, both in Poland and abroad, to increase the knowledge and skills of the hospital's medical staff, particularly in the areas of neonatology, cardiology, cardiac surgery, high-risk pregnancy, gastroenterology, and intensive therapy.
The hospital was a pioneer in Poland in such areas as conjoined twin separation, children's heart condition therapy, and burn treatment. Currently, it has over 33,000 patients per year. The number of hospital's staff amounts to 1,800, including 350 doctors and 650 nurses.
