In the framework of the VIII World Day of the Poor, the “Mother of Mercy” Outpatient Clinic, linked to the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, opens its doors to offer free medical care to those who need it most. From November 11 to November 17, the outpatient clinic, located under the colonnade of St. Peter, will guarantee medical care, medicines, and assistance to those who do not have access to health care, to respond to the Church’s call to care for the most vulnerable.
With continuous hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., a team of 46 doctors, 8 nurses, and 10 volunteers will offer their services to carry out general and specialized medical examinations, dressings, blood tests, flu vaccines, and distribute the necessary medicines, without asking for any type of document or identification. The clinic is open to all, especially those without access to health systems, without papers, and in fragile situations.
This effort is part of the Week of Charity, a set of initiatives of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity that aims to offer a concrete response to the needs of the most disadvantaged. In this edition, the Outpatient Clinic is enriched by the presence of specialist doctors in 18 different fields, who will allow consultations and treatments to be carried out without the need for an appointment. Among the specialties available are cardiology, orthopedics, gynecology, pulmonology, dermatology, ophthalmology and many more.
The central message of the World Day of the Poor, “The prayer of the poor rises to God,” invites us to reflect on God’s closeness to those most in need. Pope Francis, in his message for this day, reminds us that poverty is not only found in material scarcity, but also in human suffering, which can be redeemed through prayer and solidarity. The Day seeks not only to alleviate physical needs, but also to offer the poor a space where their suffering is recognized and accompanied by the community.
This effort to provide medical care, accompanied by prayer, is a clear reflection of the fraternal love that the Church promotes. As Pope Francis emphasizes, reaching out to the poor allows us to mature in our faith and in our ability to share the suffering of others, experiencing true Christian fraternity. Humility and solidarity make us closer to Christ and, therefore, to the “beloved of God.”
The Day will culminate with the Mass that Pope Francis will preside over on Sunday, November 17 in St. Peter’s Basilica, inviting all the faithful to join in prayer for the poorest, those whose voice is often not heard, but who find in the Church a refuge of hope and concrete help.
