On Friday, November 14, the São Martinho Clinic was opened under the Colonnade of St. Peter. The inauguration, led by Pope Leo XIV after his return from the Lateran University, marks ten years since the opening of the Mother of Mercy Clinic and comes just before the World Day of the Poor, celebrated this Sunday, November 16.
The new facility includes two rooms equipped with advanced technology and a modern radiology service. The X-ray machine will allow quick and accurate diagnoses of pneumonia, fractures, tumors, degenerative diseases, and intestinal problems — conditions common among vulnerable people and often overlooked. This will make it possible to begin treatments immediately, improving the lives of those with limited access to healthcare.
The initiative was carried out in collaboration with the Health and Hygiene Directorate of the Governorate of Vatican City. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner, emphasized that these spaces are places of welcome and care, where the poor are treated with dignity and recognized as “the face of Jesus.”
The São Martinho Clinic joins the Mother of Mercy Clinic, which already offers free daily medical care to those living in poverty or social exclusion, following the principles of the Gospel and the Church’s Social Doctrine. Today, more than 120 volunteers — including doctors, nurses, and health technicians — provide around 2,000 consultations per month, assisting about 10,000 people from 139 nationalities.
With both clinics, the Vatican will continue offering general and specialized consultations, dental care, blood and radiological exams, and the free distribution of medications, removable dental prostheses, eyeglasses, and hearing aids. Everything is delivered directly to those in need, reinforcing the Church’s commitment to comprehensive care for the poor.
Photos: Vatican News
