Athletica Vaticana ‘pedals for children’ at Bambino Gesu hospital

By Vatican News

Every war is even more inhuman when seen from a paediatric hospital, especially from a place where children are treated even when it is impossible to heal them.

With this concrete vision of fraternity, the cyclists of Athletica Vaticana spent their Sunday cycling — for 35 kilometres, at the pace of the slowest member — from Saint Peter's Square to the municipality of Fiumicino.

They travelled to Passoscuro, near Rome, to the Bambino Gesù’s Paediatric Palliative Care Centre, which was opened on 22 March 2022.

At the “finish line” of the Centre the cyclists found the children with their families and health personnel who were waiting to welcome them with applause and hugs.

Together, they planted an olive tree: a sign of hope and peace for Christmas.

The “pedalling in fraternity” event started at 2 PM from Saint Peter’s Square. At the starting line, Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, led a brief moment of prayer, leading a Hail Mary for peace.

Thus, the “Pope’s team” embraced the most fragile community of the Vatican-owned children’s hospital, on the day of his 87th birthday, representing a simple gift to Pope Francis.