Pope Francis will participate in the 2023 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), scheduled for September 18-19 in New York.
Pope Francis will deliver a remote address to kick off the event on Monday at 9:15 AM Eastern Time or 3:15 PM Rome time (GMT+2). During his speech, he is expected to touch upon various global issues, including climate change, the refugee crisis, the well-being of children, and the mission and initiatives of the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital.
The CGI gathering will commence with a welcome by former US President Bill Clinton and will be attended by notable international figures, including Irfaan Ali, the President of Guyana, and Tony Blair, the former UK Prime Minister, along with other distinguished dignitaries.
Representatives from the Patrons of Bambino Gesu Hospital will also participate in the CGI event. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting the hospital’s humanitarian endeavors in the United States, particularly the Pediatric Palliative Care Center, which provides care to children facing incurable conditions.
The Bambino Gesu Hospital offers cost-free medical assistance to hundreds of children worldwide, many of whom are coping with severe health challenges. Notably, over the past 18 months, more than two thousand Ukrainian patients, compelled to leave their homeland due to conflict, have received treatment and accommodations, along with their families.
In addition to its healthcare services, the Vatican-owned pediatric hospital conducts training programs in 16 countries, aiming to foster the personal and professional development of local healthcare professionals.
The Patrons group also engages in fundraising efforts to support the newly established Pediatric Palliative Care Center, inaugurated in 2022 in Passoscuro, situated on the Lazio region’s coast, near Rome. This center is dedicated to providing specialized care for children and adolescents with rare and incurable illnesses, as well as those with complex care needs.
