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A senior Vatican official and Samsung Health executives have spent the past week in Australia touring Catholic hospitals as part of a visit that brought together mission and innovation.
Hosted by Catholic Health Australia and the Association of Ministerial PJPs, the week began with Holy Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney on Sunday November 2 to commemorate All Souls’ Day. Mass was led by the Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher and concelebrated by Monsignor Clemente Bobchev of Rome, on his first visit to Australia.
Monsignor Bobchev serves as Counsellor to His Excellency Mons. Enrico dal Covolo, Assessor of the Pontifical Committee for Sciences, and as Advisor to Samsung Healthcare on matters concerning the Church and religious institutions. His work reflects a commitment to fostering dialogue between faith, ethics and innovation in healthcare technology.
The tour officially began at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney before the delegation flew to Brisbane to tour Mater Mothers’ Hospital and The Wesley Hospital.
The Melbourne leg included a tour of Australian Catholic University, Mercy Hospital for Women and Cabrini Malvern. The group then travelled to Calvary Adelaide Hospital before their final stop in Perth where they toured St John of God’s Midland and Murdoch hospitals.
Catholic Health Australia Chair Jenny Parker said the listening tour gave the delegation first-hand knowledge of the important role our hospitals play in the Australian healthcare system.
“It was so wonderful to show our international guests the quality of care that our public and private hospitals are renown for,” said Jenny.
“Our members make an enormous contribution to healthcare in Australia, operating 80 hospitals and providing around 30 per cent of private hospital care as well as five per cent of public hospital care.
“The Australian visit was an opportunity for CHA members to engage directly with Samsung Health, to explore potential partnerships, and connect with Samsung’s global Catholic health network that shares a commitment to innovation, mission and equitable access to care.”
During the tour, Monsignor Clemente discussed shared opportunities to connect technology and compassion in service of those most in need, and gifted Rosary beads blessed by the Holy Father.
The Association of Ministerial PJPs Executive Director Martin Teulan said the visit was another opportunity to build relationships with a corporate partner of the Vatican and Catholic healthcare providers internationally.
“The partnership between the Vatican and Samsung is a longstanding relationship centred on healthcare innovation and philanthropy,” said Martin.
“As well as providing big screens for St Peter’s Square, Samsung supports healthcare at the Gemelli University Hospital, a Catholic teaching hospital that also provided hospital care to Pope Francis and other popes. They support both spiritual and caring needs, and they are very much valued by the Church,” Martin Teulan said.
The Samsung delegation included senior executives across healthcare, medical equipment, AI and sales and marketing from Korea and Australia, as well as med-tech company representatives.
