Journalist and writer Biagio Maimone has been appointed Head of Communications at the Bambino Gesù Foundation in Cairo (ETS), headed by Msgr. Yoannis Lazhi Gaid, longtime Personal Secretary to His Holiness Pope Francis. This appointment represents a continuation of his previous experience at the Bambino Gesù Association in Cairo, from which the Foundation originated. The Association was itself established in 2019 following the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity and Living Together, signed in Abu Dhabi by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb.
Among the Foundation's major projects, the distribution of 35,000 meals to date and the provision of medical care, specialist visits, and medicines to over 10,000 children and vulnerable individuals represent concrete, tangible, and documented evidence of a constant, structured, and operational presence of solidarity, founded on the principles of collective responsibility, the protection of human dignity, and the integral promotion of the person.
In recent days, the care of Mariano, a 12-year-old boy from Vena di Maida, in the Catanzaro area, has attracted considerable media attention and widespread solidarity. He suffers from severe morbid obesity, weighing nearly 200 kilograms. The Foundation has signed an agreement for his protection, assistance, and medical support.
The "House of Hope" initiative, a safe haven for women victims of violence and trafficking and their children, is particularly noteworthy. This initiative demonstrates that the Foundation's role goes beyond material assistance to promote a culture of solidarity, social inclusion, and comprehensive care.
The "Oasi della Pietà" orphanage, a "House of Dignity" for 300 children, completes the program. It also includes a cooking school run by international chef Francesco Mazzei, offering education, affection, and professional skills to ensure a peaceful future. The "Bambino Gesù" Hospital Project in Cairo, the first Father's Hospital outside of Italy, provides healthcare excellence for mothers and children in need in partnership with the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital in Rome; the "Fratello" Solidarity Hospital Network, which distributed over 35,000 meals to the poorest communities in 2024; and the "Salus" Mobile Clinics, a mobile healthcare service that reaches the most remote regions, offering free pediatric care in collaboration with the Gemelli Polyclinic and the Bambino Gesù Hospital.
Source: www.farodiroma.it
