Pope Francis to speak at Clinton Global Initiative

By Vatican News

The Holy See Press Office informed journalists on Thursday that Pope Francis will take part in the 2023 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), taking place on 18-19 September in New York.

The Pope will address participants via remote link at the start of the event on Monday, at 9:15 ET or 3:15 PM Rome time (GMT+2).

He is expected to speak about several global topics, including climate change, the refugee crisis, the welfare of children, and the mission and projects of the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital.

Former US President Bill Clinton will kick off the CGI meeting, which will also be attended by Irfaan Ali, the President of Guyana, and Tony Blair, the former UK Prime Minister, among a host of other high-level international dignitaries.

Patrons of Bambino Gesu Hospital

Representatives of the Patrons of Bambino Gesu Hospital will take part in the CGI event.

The non-profit organization seeks to support the hospital’s humanitarian projects in the United States, including the Pediatric Palliative Care Center dedicated to incurable children.

According to a press release, the Bambino Gesu Hospital offers care free-of-charge to hundreds of children from all over the world, many of whom suffer from very severe health conditions.

“In the last 18 months, over two thousand Ukrainian patients, forced to leave their country to escape war, have been treated and hosted, together with their families,” read the statement.

The Vatican-owned pediatric hospital also runs healthcare training programs in 16 countries that seek to contribute to the human and professional growth of the local healthcare professionals.

The Patrons group also carries out fundraising to support the new Pediatric Palliative Care Center, inaugurated in 2022 in Passoscuro, on the coast of Lazio region, near Rome.

The care center is dedicated to children and adolescents with rare and incurable diseases, and with complex care needs.