His Beatitude Sviatoslav Presents the Order of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky to the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome
On Tuesday, November 3, a ceremony to present the Order of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky took place at the Holy See’s Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome. The hospital received the highest honor of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in recognition of its many years of assistance to Ukrainian children who, amid the full-scale war, require complex treatment and rehabilitation.
The ceremony took place in the hospital’s historic building on Janiculum Hill. Those in attendance included His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; Tiziano Onesti, President of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital; Andriy Yurash, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Holy See; Fr. Andriy Soletskyi, Head of the Secretariat of the Head of the UGCC in Rome; as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, clergy, medical staff, and hospital administration.
The award, granted by a decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church at the initiative of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, was presented as a token of gratitude from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the entire Ukrainian people for the hospital’s humanitarian mission. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the hospital has been caring for Ukrainian children in need of complex medical treatment and rehabilitation.
According to hospital data, from 2022 through November 2026, 3,974 Ukrainian patients received medical care at Bambino Gesù, 1,084 of whom were treated in 2026 alone. The care encompasses a wide range of medical specialties, including oncohematology, neurology, neurorehabilitation, cardiology, and general pediatrics. In particular, many children from Ukraine have been able to travel to Italy and receive the necessary treatment thanks to the hospital’s collaboration with the Secretariat of the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome.
However, the hospital’s mission extends beyond medical treatment. Ukrainian children and their families also receive psychological, spiritual, and humanitarian support. Key components of the program include language assistance, accommodation arrangements, logistical support, and transportation for patients and their parents.
Addressing those present, His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed his deep gratitude to the hospital’s administration, doctors, medical staff, and all employees for their selfless service to Ukrainian children.
“The Bambino Gesù Hospital not only restores our children’s health—it gives them a new life, renews their faith in God’s mercy, and restores their hope and peace for the future,” emphasized the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
He stressed that helping Ukrainian children is a true act of Christian love for one’s neighbor, manifested not only through professionalism but also through the ability to share in the suffering of those enduring the consequences of war.
“On behalf of Ukraine, we want to say to all the hospital staff: you are not just extraordinary professionals; you are the hands of God, embracing His youngest children in their suffering,” noted His Beatitude Sviatoslav, assuring the medical staff of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s prayers for their ministry.
“This recognition is a sign of gratitude from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the entire Ukrainian people for your selfless service, as well as an expression of gratitude to the Holy See for its concrete solidarity with the Ukrainian people,” added the Primate.
Accepting the award on behalf of the entire hospital community, President Tiziano Onesti emphasized that it belonged not only to the hospital’s leadership but also to everyone who provides care to its young patients every day: doctors, nurses, medical staff, administrative personnel, interpreters, volunteers, logistics and transportation staff, as well as religious sisters and brothers.
“What is being recognized today is the fruit of everyone’s labor, and this inspires us with a special sense of pride. Above all, however, it reminds us of the deeper meaning of our mission: to be there for every child in need of care, regardless of origin, language, or health condition,” said Tiziano Onesti.
The president of the children’s hospital added: “Pediatric medicine knows no borders, and solidarity—especially when it comes to the youngest among us—is a responsibility we feel profoundly.”
He also pointed to the similarities between the hospital’s mission and the ministry of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, who, in the early 20th century, was the patron and chief benefactor of the People’s Hospital in Lviv—an institution that provided free medical care to all in need, regardless of their faith or nationality.
“To welcome the suffering without question”—this is how Tiziano Onesti summed up this principle of service, which, in his words, unites the history of the People’s Hospital with the mission of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome.
The Order of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky is the highest honor of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. It was established in 2018 by the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC. The award is presented to individuals, civic organizations, and church institutions for exceptional contributions to the service of the Church and one’s neighbor, as well as for embodying the Christian values and spiritual legacy of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky.
Secretariat of the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome
