Ukraine‘s First Lady meets Pope and visits patients at Vatican Children’s Hospital
The wife of Ukraine’s president is in Rome to meet Italian authorities and government officials as her country marks 1,000 tragic days of war. On Wednesday, she was received by Pope Francis, attended the General Audience and visited young patients at the Bambino Gesù hospital.
By Salvatore Cernuzio
On the dark anniversary of 1,000 days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, is in Rome where she met with the authorities.
On Wednesday, his appointments included a private audience with Pope Francis, a visit to the Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital and attending an evening mass with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi at the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere.
His first stop was the Vatican for a private 30-minute meeting with Pope Francis. Zelenska expressed her deep gratitude to the Holy Father for his continued appeals for his war-torn nation, his support and aid efforts, as well as for the continuing mission of Cardinal Zuppi.
Pope Francis receives Olena Zelenska
She also thanked him for the care provided by the Vatican hospital to thousands of Ukrainian children, while Pope Francis reiterated his closeness to the Ukrainian people.
“It was a very positive and serene moment,” said Andrii Yurash, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Holy See, who was present at the meeting. “This was another important opportunity to strengthen our friendship with the Vatican. Relations have never been stronger.”
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General audience
Pope Francis invited Zelenska, whose husband visited the Vatican on Oct. 11, to join Wednesday’s general audience. She arrived at St. Peter’s Square at 9 a.m. and was seated in the front row alongside the First Ladies of Lithuania, Serbia and Armenia.
At the end of the audience, she again greeted the Pope, expressing gratitude to him for his sincere appeals on behalf of Ukraine and his recent letter to the nuncio on the occasion of 1,000 days of war.
Visit young patients
After the General Audience, Zelenska and her fellow First Ladies went to the Janiculum, where the “Bambino Gesù” children’s hospital is located.
There, Zelenska personally witnessed the work the hospital had done since the start of the war, treating more than 2,500 Ukrainian children.
In a 2022 letter to former hospital president Mariella Enoc, Zelenska stressed the importance of physical and emotional rehabilitation for children and their families, so they can “start smiling again.”
Olena Zelenska visits the Bambino Gesù hospital
Comfort for mothers and children
During the visit, Zelenska hugged and comforted mothers who shared their emotional struggles of being away from home while caring for their children. Many young patients receive treatment for serious illnesses such as cancer, infectious diseases and kidney disease.
The hospital’s medical director, Massimiliano Raponi, welcomed the delegation and gave an overview of the institution’s efforts.
Zelenska and the other first ladies met with hospital administration and then went to the playroom, where they interacted with Ukrainian families and children, many of whom had drawings for her.
The First Ladies reciprocated with gifts including crocheted toys and tablets for the children.
“These children represent only a fraction of those we have been caring for since 2022,” said Dr. Celeste Lucia, noting that many patients, ranging in age from newborns to adolescents, have been injured during the conflict.
Zelenska expressed deep gratitude for the dedication of the staff, saying, “When we see how children are cared for here, it brings hope to all of us. »
Olena Zelenska visits the Bambino Gesù hospital
