Poland: ‘Cradles of Life’ saving abandoned babies

By Tomasz Zielenkiewicz – Warsaw

A few days ago, on the evening of Monday March 11, the Ursuline Sisters found a young girl abandoned in the Polish city of Łódź. They called her Julia. She was dressed normally and appeared healthy, and doctors confirmed her good health.

On the same day, an 11-month-old boy was found on Szosa Bydgoska Street in Toruń. He was taken to hospital for checks.

Another child was found on Sunday in Wrocław and a one and a half month old girl was brought to 22-28 Rydygiera Street, in the building of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Charles Borromeo.

All of these infants were saved thanks to “Cradles of Life,” special places where children, even as young as a few months old, can be left safely and anonymously if parents are unable to raise or care for them two.

Visits and care

The “Cradles” open from the outside and are equipped with heating and ventilation.

When they are opened, the people designated to look after the child are alerted.

Immediately, medical and administrative procedures are initiated so that the child can be examined and offered for adoption.

Currently, there are 60 “Cradles of Life” in Poland, most of which are run by religious congregations, such as the Sisters of the Divine Shepherd of Divine Providence of the Blessed Maria Karłowska Caritas Center in Toruń.

An ancient practice

The idea of ​​protecting orphaned children in the same way was already widespread in the Middle Ages.

The oldest “cradle of life” dates back to 1198 and was located in Rome, next to the Santo Spirito in Sassia hospital, founded by Pope Innocent III.

In Poland, the first “Cradle” was created on March 19, 2006 in Krakow, at the initiative of Caritas of the Archdiocese of Krakow and Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz.

In 2023, nine children were found in the “Cradles of Life”.