Historic Private Audience at the Vatican
In an unprecedented moment at the Vatican in Rome, Pope Francis welcomed Sheba Medical Center‘s leadership and a wounded soldier in a private audience on Wednesday morning. The historic delegation included Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, Director General of Sheba Medical Center, Yoel Har-Even, VP of Global Affairs, and Alon Kaminer, a seriously wounded soldier currently recuperating at Sheba’s rehabilitation hospital.
This remarkable meeting emerged from a recent inspiring encounter at Sheba, where a high-ranking Vatican official visited injured civilians and soldiers, including Kaminer. Moved by this initial visit, the Vatican extended an invitation for a private audience, during which Pope Francis bestowed his blessing upon Kaminer.
Healthcare as Bridge to Peace
In this profound dialogue, Prof. Kreiss conveyed to Pope Francis Sheba’s fundamental mission as a hospital of peace and innovation. He emphasized the medical center’s crucial role at the forefront of restoring the lives of war casualties, while serving as a bridge between nations and countries – a living symbol of humanity, compassion, and unity.
The meeting also addressed current humanitarian concerns, with Prof. Kreiss expressing gratitude for the pontiff’s ongoing efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages in Gaza. Looking toward the future, he proposed strengthening ties with the Holy See, opening new possibilities for humanitarian collaboration between these two institutions.
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