LIVE STREAMING
A crying baby is held up for Pope Francis to bless during a parade through Philadelphia. (Photo: Catalina Jaramillo/AL DÍA News)

25 babies born at Penn hospitals over Pope weekend

The original prediction was 100.

MORE IN THIS SECTION

Day 100 in Kensington

The 2024 Solar Eclipse

Are you Ready!

Volvér Closing Its Doors

Key Bridge Collapse Victims

Latino Engagement Director

Bridging the Latino Divide

Colombia's Rock Icon

SHARE THIS CONTENT:

Much like the crowd estimates, the number of babies born at University of Pennsylvania hospitals over the papal weekend fell far below official estimates.

According to this infographic released by Penn Medicine's communications department last week, the hospital was all prepped for an intense weekend. Two thousand staffers would sleep at the hospitals, 560 pounds of extra chicken fingers would be kept on hand, and a whopping 100 babies were expected to be delivered.

 

On Monday night, Stephen Graff, Penn Medicine's assistant director of strategic communications, sent out an email saying the actual number of babies delivered was exactly one-quarter of the prediction.

"As activities related to this weekend’s visit by Pope Francis wind down," Graff wrote in an email, according to PhillyMag. "All Penn Medicine city hospitals — the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH) —report smooth and continuous operations. Since Friday, surgeons at HUP performed organ transplants on four patients. Twenty five babies were also born — 10 at HUP and 15 at PAH."

  • LEAVE A COMMENT:

  • Join the discussion! Leave a comment.

  • or
  • REGISTER
  • to comment.
  • LEAVE A COMMENT:

  • Join the discussion! Leave a comment.

  • or
  • REGISTER
  • to comment.