Pope Francis says "... put "the poor sick" at the center of your work, and in them Jesus, who told us: «Everything you have done to just one of these my least brothers, you did it to me" to Hospital Delegation
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GREETING FROM THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
TO THE DELEGATION OF THE "MIULLI" HOSPITAL IN ACQUAVIVA DELLE FONTI (BARI)
Consistory Hall on Monday, December 18, 2023
______________________________________
Excellence, Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning!
I welcome you and thank you for this visit, which allows me to meet the working community of the “Francesco Miulli” Hospital in Acquaviva delle Fonti. It is an Ecclesiastical Body, and this challenges our responsibility as a Church even more. In fact, it is a place that combines Christian inspiration with professionalism and clinical and technological innovation. I would like to focus on two essential aspects of your work: putting the person at the center and promoting scientific research.
First: put the person at the center. Yours is an ancient hospital, founded nine centuries ago, as a "hospital for the poor sick", that is, as a welcoming and safe place where those who suffer can find refuge and help. And you try to be faithful to the commitment of those who preceded you, continuing to put "the poor sick" at the center of your work, and in them Jesus, who told us: «Everything you have done to just one of these my least brothers, you did it to me" (see Mt 25:40).
This has made you a dynamic and continuously growing reality, as evidenced by the way in which you constantly update both the treatments and the structures, in order to provide the most complete service possible to patients. In fact, the new hospital location allows you to offer patients over 600 beds, with operating rooms and operating units, in which more than a thousand employees work with professionalism and dedication. I appreciated the opening, within the structure, of a clinic for migrants - created in collaboration with the Diocesan Caritas - which makes use of the voluntary services of all the medical and nursing staff. This is very beautiful, and testifies to the spirit with which you carry out your service. With all this, it can be said that the “Miulli” is a precious resource for its territory and also at a national level.
And we come to the second point: promoting scientific research. You have already been engaged in this for decades, in collaboration with numerous Italian universities. For two years, however, with the accreditation of the Ministry of University and Research, the "Miulli" has become a University Polyclinic and has activated the Single Cycle Master's Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery. This is an objective of great value, which on the one hand allows the health workers present to carry out a recognized service both in the academic and healthcare fields in their own territory, and on the other hand it also gives the best local intelligence the opportunity not to emigrate - emigration is a problem that impoverishes territories, and we know it -; indeed, it can encourage other high-level professionals to come and operate in Italy, in an enriching exchange of skills over broader horizons.
Dear friends, the “Francesco Miulli” Hospital can foster a virtuous circle for ever-improving healthcare for the benefit of the community and patients, while at the same time caring about the quality of the service and attention to people. I thank you for what you do, and I encourage you to continue along this path with enthusiasm. I heartily bless you, you and your work, and I wish you a merry Christmas! I recommend you: do not forget to pray for me. Thank you.
TO THE DELEGATION OF THE "MIULLI" HOSPITAL IN ACQUAVIVA DELLE FONTI (BARI)
Consistory Hall on Monday, December 18, 2023
______________________________________
Excellence, Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning!
I welcome you and thank you for this visit, which allows me to meet the working community of the “Francesco Miulli” Hospital in Acquaviva delle Fonti. It is an Ecclesiastical Body, and this challenges our responsibility as a Church even more. In fact, it is a place that combines Christian inspiration with professionalism and clinical and technological innovation. I would like to focus on two essential aspects of your work: putting the person at the center and promoting scientific research.
First: put the person at the center. Yours is an ancient hospital, founded nine centuries ago, as a "hospital for the poor sick", that is, as a welcoming and safe place where those who suffer can find refuge and help. And you try to be faithful to the commitment of those who preceded you, continuing to put "the poor sick" at the center of your work, and in them Jesus, who told us: «Everything you have done to just one of these my least brothers, you did it to me" (see Mt 25:40).
This has made you a dynamic and continuously growing reality, as evidenced by the way in which you constantly update both the treatments and the structures, in order to provide the most complete service possible to patients. In fact, the new hospital location allows you to offer patients over 600 beds, with operating rooms and operating units, in which more than a thousand employees work with professionalism and dedication. I appreciated the opening, within the structure, of a clinic for migrants - created in collaboration with the Diocesan Caritas - which makes use of the voluntary services of all the medical and nursing staff. This is very beautiful, and testifies to the spirit with which you carry out your service. With all this, it can be said that the “Miulli” is a precious resource for its territory and also at a national level.
And we come to the second point: promoting scientific research. You have already been engaged in this for decades, in collaboration with numerous Italian universities. For two years, however, with the accreditation of the Ministry of University and Research, the "Miulli" has become a University Polyclinic and has activated the Single Cycle Master's Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery. This is an objective of great value, which on the one hand allows the health workers present to carry out a recognized service both in the academic and healthcare fields in their own territory, and on the other hand it also gives the best local intelligence the opportunity not to emigrate - emigration is a problem that impoverishes territories, and we know it -; indeed, it can encourage other high-level professionals to come and operate in Italy, in an enriching exchange of skills over broader horizons.
Dear friends, the “Francesco Miulli” Hospital can foster a virtuous circle for ever-improving healthcare for the benefit of the community and patients, while at the same time caring about the quality of the service and attention to people. I thank you for what you do, and I encourage you to continue along this path with enthusiasm. I heartily bless you, you and your work, and I wish you a merry Christmas! I recommend you: do not forget to pray for me. Thank you.
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