Mission and Aid · October 14, 2026
Vatican: Free Eye Exams and Glasses for Children
A health initiative took place on October 7 and 8 at the Pediatric Clinic of Saint Martha in the Vatican, serving approximately 450 families. The examination was coordinated by the Dicastery for the Service of Charity in collaboration with the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation. Ophthalmologists examined children, and glasses were prepared for those in need. Some patients were found to have conditions requiring further diagnostics.
Archbishop Marín de San Martín, prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, met with the children and parents. He described the initiative as a testament to concrete, effective love for one’s neighbor. "Here, everyone is welcomed, because love knows no boundaries," he emphasized.
The clinic is directed by Sister Anna Luisa Rizzello from the Grey Sisters congregation. She explained that many families struggle with unemployment and housing issues. Approximately 70 doctors and 40 volunteers support the clinic, but there is also a need for speech therapists and specialists in psychomotor therapy. "For us, helping those most in need regarding vision is not just a medical action. It is an action towards leveling the playing field," said Andrea Rendina, general secretary of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation.
Ophthalmologist Valeria Pendino from the Bietti Foundation pointed to the importance of early diagnostics. Among those examined were children who had not undergone recommended eye checks, and previously undetected defects disrupted normal vision development in one or both eyes. Migrant families also benefit from the clinic's assistance. Asma, a mother of three from Tunisia, has been coming here for nearly nine years. She previously received milk and food for the youngest. "They are good to us, foreigners," she stated.