It was about 16.15 when Pope Francis popped out from under the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square on foot; coming from Casa Santa Marta, he went straight to the mobile health clinic set up on the occasion of the World Day of the Poor on November 18.The medical clinic was set up for a week to offer free treatment and checkups to the needy on World Day of the Poor.

A surprise from the Pope to all the medical and nursing staff who - from last Monday until Sunday - are offering free medical care and checkups to the homeless, the needy, migrants. Francis - as last year with the mini hospital set up by the Misericordie for the same occasion - wanted to meet and thank them personally for this service that in five days has already welcomed over 200 people.

Bergoglio, among the applause, the amazement, the smartphones, the videos and the selfie, entered the temporary clinic greeting volunteers and patients. He also greeted some tourists and passers-by who were passing through the square and who stopped as soon as they noticed that the police were blocking some entrances to the area.

To accompany the Pope is Monsignor Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization that promotes the initiative. The Dicastery is entrusted with the organization of the Day, instituted by the Pontiff at the end of the Jubilee of Mercy, which after the morning mass in the Vatican Basilica will culminate in a great lunch in the Paul VI Hall with 3,000 homeless, refugees and families in difficulty.