Vatican Children’s Hospital Ranked Sixth Best in the World
The Vatican owned Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital has been ranked sixth best in the world and first in Europe for paediatrics in the 2026 edition of Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals report. The recognition places the Holy See’s flagship medical institution among the most respected healthcare centers globally.
The annual ranking, produced in partnership with global data firm Statista, assessed 2,500 hospitals across 32 countries. It evaluates institutions across twelve medical specialties, including paediatrics, using a combination of international surveys of healthcare professionals, patient experience indicators, clinical performance data, and hospital quality metrics.
Bambino Gesù’s position at the top of the European paediatric category highlights its growing reputation for advanced clinical care, research, and medical training. The hospital operates within the Italian healthcare system while remaining under the ownership of the Holy See, giving it a unique institutional identity that blends medical excellence with the Catholic Church’s mission of service.
Hospital President Tiziano Onesti described the recognition as the result of collective daily commitment. He emphasized that doctors, nurses, researchers, administrative staff, volunteers, and religious personnel all contribute to the institution’s high standards. According to Onesti, the hospital’s strength lies not only in highly specialized treatments but also in its attention to the human and relational dimensions of care.
Bambino Gesù is the only paediatric hospital within Italy’s national health system to appear among the top thirty hospitals in its category. Over the years, it has secured important international certifications, including Joint Commission International accreditation as an Academic Medical Center, reflecting its role in clinical research and medical education.
The hospital also leads Europe in its participation in reference networks for rare diseases, holding affiliations in twenty out of twenty four European networks. This involvement allows it to collaborate across borders, share expertise, and offer specialized treatments to children facing complex and uncommon medical conditions.
Each year, Bambino Gesù handles nearly three million outpatient services, around one hundred thousand emergency room visits, and more than thirty three thousand surgical procedures. These figures demonstrate both the scale of its operations and the trust placed in the institution by families across Italy and beyond.
Onesti noted that the global recognition serves as encouragement to continue strengthening advanced, equitable, and person centered care. He affirmed the hospital’s commitment to sharing knowledge within the Italian healthcare system and with international partners to ensure that young patients receive the highest standard of treatment.
The hospital also expressed gratitude to families, benefactors, healthcare institutions, and the Holy See for their ongoing support. As one of the most visible expressions of the Vatican’s commitment to healthcare, Bambino Gesù stands as a central pillar of the Church’s mission to protect life and promote human dignity through concrete service.
