On Monday, July 13, 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 health emergency in Honduras, three ventilators donated by Pope Francis were officially delivered to “El Carmen” Hospital of Tegucigalpa, reported in a note Suyapa Medios.
The donation included material for medical use, given to the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of Saint Teresa, who run the Hospital.
Pope Francis’ Gift
The ventilators are part of a total of 35 the Pontiff sent last June 26 to different countries, to palliate the effects of the coronavirus health emergency: 3 to Honduras, 4 to Haiti, 2 to the Dominican Republic, 2 to Bolivia, 4 to Brazil, 3 to Colombia, 2 to Ecuador, 3 to Mexico, 4 to Venezuela, 2 to Cameroon, 2 to Zimbabwe, 2 to Bangladesh and 2 to Ukraine.
The Pope’s gift was handed over by Monsignor Gabor Pinter, Apostolic Nuncio in Honduras, who said this noble gesture of the Holy Father is a sign of solidarity and of concern for one’s neighbor.
Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez and Father Carlos Nunez received this donation and delivered it to the Hospital’s authorities. The Cardinal said that the Pontiff’s gift reflects his concern for Honduras not only in prayer but in solidarity.
Hope in the Midst of the Pandemic
For her part, Mother Cruz Idalia Perez, General Directress of “El Carmen” Hospital, expressed her great joy, as the Hospital did not have ventilators, and stressed that the arrival of these gifts is perceived as a gift of the Virgin of Carmel, whose feast will be observed on July 16.
Father Carlo Magno Nunez, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa, stressed the importance of this donation for Honduras and for the Hospital, describing it as “a sign of hope in the midst of this pandemic.”
