Pontiff greets Ukrainian patients at Bambino Gesù.

Pope Francis on Saturday made a surprise visit to Ukrainian children being treated at the Vatican's paediatric hospital in Rome after they fled the Russian invasion of their homeland.

The pontiff greeted the 19 Ukrainian patients at Ospedale Bambino Gesù, according to Vatican News, which reports that around 50 children from Ukraine have received treatment at the hospital since the war broke out.

Pope Francis stops by the Vatican’s Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital to visit a group of Ukrainian children receiving treatment after fleeing the war in their home country. pic.twitter.com/p52hyXWInD— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) March 19, 2022

The children are being treated for various illnesses, including oncological and neurological conditions, after their medical care in Ukraine was disrupted by the Russian invasion.

Some of the children are recovering from war injuries including "serious blast wounds", the Vatican said. 

La visita del Santo Padre alle bambine e i bambini ucraini ricoverati nel "suo" ospedale. Le carezze, i sorrisi, il silenzio attonito di fronte al dolore degli innocenti #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/yIOqhaeLJD— Bambino Gesù (@bambinogesu) March 19, 2022