This is how people in Thailand waited for the pope at the St. Louis Hospital of Bangkok, where he went to visit doctors and patients.
The center was founded 120 years ago by the archbishop of Bangkok.
He was received with applause, flags, songs and of course, flowers.
One of the attention-grabbers was this boy dressed as a pope.
In the front row, the pope greeted some of the sick people, as well as those who care for them.
“Welcome, Holy Father.”
Later, the pope entered the hospital to meet some of the doctors and nurses and paid a visit to some of the sick.
Of those attending, there was Card. Michael Michai Kitbunchu, who is 90 years old.
The meeting was attended by religious who tend to this and other hospitals in the area, such as the sisters of St. Paul of Chartres or the Camillians.
The director of the St. Louis Hospital greeted the pope on behalf of everyone. He recalled how as a Catholic hospital they respect the dignity of all people and do not distinguish between rich and poor patients.
The pope thanked them and remembered where there is charity, there is God; he assured them to not be afraid to change plans to help someone.
POPE FRANCIS
“You must be ready to embrace whatever each new day sets before us. It is about welcoming and embracing human life as it arrives at the Hospital’s emergency room, needing to be treated with the merciful care born of love and respect for the dignity of each human person.”
As a gift, the pope gave them a copy of a fresco of the Virgin Mary, which was in the streets of Rome.
Later, the pope left to visit with some hospital patients in private.
However, some people did not want him to leave so soon.
Javier Martínez-Brocal
Translated: Rachel Dobrzynski
