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<center><img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1711.jpg'>
 150th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Bambino Gesu Hospital Scott 1711 (2019)</center>
 
On February 20, 2024, the Bambino Gesù (Baby Jesus) Pediatric Hospital celebrated the 100th anniversary of its donation to the Holy See in 1924. Considered one of the most prestigious children’s hospitals in the world, it is often referred to as the “Pope's Hospital".
 
The Bambino Gesù Hospital predates its donation to the Holy See. It was established in 1869 by the Duchess and Duke Salviati in their home in the center of Rome. It initially had 12 beds and was the first hospital dedicated to children in Rome. In 1887, the hospital relocated to the ancient convent of Sant'Onofrio on the Janiculum Hill and remains there to this day. The Hospital gained prominence in its early years by addressing the needs of children victimized by the Avezzano earthquake in 1915 and the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918. On February 20, 1924, the hospital was donated to the Holy See, and it quickly became a point of reference for the care of sick children, not only in Rome but across Europe and around the world. Today, the Bambino Gesù Hospital is the largest pediatric clinic and research hospital in Europe.
 
Although located outside the Vatican, it is under the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the Holy See. There are plans for the hospital to move in 2030 from its current location to the site of the former Carlo Forlanini Hospital in Rome. 
 
Over the years, the Successors of Saint Peter have been visitors to the “Pope’s Hospital”. The first Pope to visit was Pope John XXIII in 1958, followed Pope Paul VI in 1968, Pope John Paul II in 1979, Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope Francis in 2017. During his visit, Pope Francis was quoted as saying: "I perceive that more than a hospital this is a family".
 
The work of the Hospital continues as we speak. The Vatican News article from February 25, 2024, which can be viewed by clicking on the link in the references below, shows Pope Francis during a visit to the Hospital on March 19, 2022 as he consoles a victim of the war in Ukraine. The article states that the hospital had treated over 2500 pediatric victims during the first two years of the war.
 
In 2019, Vatican City issued the stamp shown at the top of this article to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the hospital.
 
REFERENCES:
<li>Francesca Merlo, Vatican News, February 20, 2024, <a href='https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-02/one-hundred-years-bambino-gesu-hospital-holy-see-family.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NewsletterVN-EN'>One hundred years ago the 'Bambino Gesù' became the Pope's Hospital</a> 
<li>Salvatore Cernuzio, Vatican News, February 25, 2024, <a href='https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-02/bambino-gesu-for-two-years-open-to-young-ukrainian-patients.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NewsletterVN-EN'>Bambino Gesù, for two years caring for young Ukrainian patients fleeing from war</a> 
<li>Wikipedia, <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bambino_Ges%C3%B9_Hospital'>Bambino Gesù Hospital</a> 
<li>UFN, March 19, 2019, <a href='https://vaticanstamps.org/UFN/images/2019-2-08-1.jpg'>150th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital</a> 
<li>Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search

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