Pope Leo XIV inaugurated the San Martino Outpatient Clinic under the colonnade of St. Peter, next to the Mother of Mercy Outpatient Clinic, with the aim of increasing healthcare services dedicated to the poor.
The new structure of the Apostolic Almonry, opened under Bernini's colonnade that embraces St. Peter's Square, incorporates an X-ray service to diagnose early pathologies common among those living on the street.
This inauguration takes place before the World Day of the Poor, which is celebrated this Sunday.
According to information from Vatican News and the Argentine News Agency (NA), the new center has two rooms equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and a new X-ray service. Thanks to a state-of-the-art X-ray machine, it will allow for the rapid and precise diagnosis of pneumonia, bone fractures, tumors, and other ailments that often go unnoticed in people living in poverty.
"We write them a prescription," explains the cardinal, "and they enter the Vatican, where they are received by the Swiss Guards and gendarmes. They go to the Vatican pharmacy, place the prescription on the counter, and receive the medications without paying."
With both clinics, it will continue to guarantee the poor general and specialized medical consultations, dental check-ups, blood and radiological analyses, as well as the delivery of removable dental prostheses, glasses, hearing aids, and medications.
Cardinal Krajewski recounted that Pope Leo was struck by the possibility of obtaining all necessary medications for free. In total, the Apostolic Almonry provides over 2,000 healthcare services free of charge each month, thanks to the work of 120 volunteers. The poor served are around 10,000, from 139 different nationalities.
This early diagnosis will allow for immediate initiation of appropriate treatments.
Krajewski emphasizes that this gesture is a way for them not to feel rejected, since "All have the right, including the poor."
