PAPAL HEALTH UPDATE FROM HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE – POPE OFFERS CONDOLENCES, PRAYERS FOR SILVIO BERLUSCONI

I received this very positive thought today from a friend. I wholeheartedly agree with St. Thomas!

“Times are never so bad that a good man cannot live in them”

~ St. Thomas Aquinas

PAPAL HEALTH UPDATE FROM HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE

A communique this morning said: “The (Gemelli) medical staff says the post-operative course of the Holy Father continues to be regular, observing all medical indications.   Pope Francis continues to eat normally. This morning he received the Holy Eucharist and subsequently dedicated himself to work activities.”

A separate report on Vatican News noted, “As a standard precaution, the Pope is expected to stay in the hospital this week, so he can return ‘stronger even than before’.”

POPE OFFERS CONDOLENCES, PRAYERS FOR SILVIO BERLUSCONI

Pope Francis joins in the mourning of former Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who died today at age 86 after battling illness, calling the three-time Italian PM and businessman “a protagonist in Italian political life” who “held public responsibilities with energetic temperament.”

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis has offered his condolences and prayers for Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s longest-serving premier, who passed away on Monday at age 86.

In a telegram sent on the Pope’s behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to the former Italian Prime Minister’s daughter, Maria Elvira Berlusconi, in Milan, the Pope mourned the late Italian politician.

According to the Associated Press, Berlusconi was admitted to San Raffaele Hospital in Milan on Friday, his second recent hospitalization for treatment of chronic leukemia. He also suffered over the years from heart ailments, prostate cancer and was hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2020.

A state funeral will be held Wednesday in Milan’s Duomo cathedral, according to the archdiocese of Milan.

Pope’s mourning and prayers
“Pope Francis, having been informed of the death of your beloved father, Senator Silvio Berlusconi,” the telegram began, “wishes to extend his closeness to you and your family, assuring you of his heartfelt participation in the mourning for the loss of a protagonist of Italian political life, who held public responsibilities with energetic temperament.”

“His Holiness,” it continued, “invokes from the Lord, eternal peace for him, and consolation of heart for those who mourn his passing.”

Pope Francis joined in the condolences “with fervent remembrance” in prayer.

 

POPE IS DOING WELL, HAD PIZZA FOR DINNER, IS EXPECTED TO BE DISCHARGED SATURDAY

POPE IS DOING WELL, HAD PIZZA FOR DINNER, IS EXPECTED TO BE DISCHARGED SATURDAY

Friday, March 31 communique from Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni:

“Yesterday went well, with a normal clinical course. In the evening Pope Francis had pizza for dinner, eating with those who are helping him during these days of hospitalization: doctors, nurses, assistants and members of the gendarmerie.

This morning after breakfast, he read some newspapers and went back to work. His Holiness’ return home to Santa Marta is expected tomorrow, following the results of the latest tests this morning.”

Gemelli Hospital – (papal apartment on top floor where shutters are closed)

(Personally, I think the best part of the medical bulletin is learning Pope Francis had pizza for dinner – and in company! The Pope has said on many occasions how much he enjoys pizza and he’d love it if, in Rome, he could just walk outside and go to a pizzeria like he used to do in Buenos Aires!)

POPE RESTING WELL, EATING, WORKING, RECEIVED EUCHARIST

POPE RESTING WELL, EATING, WORKING, RECEIVED EUCHARIST

March 30, 2023: From Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni:

“His Holiness Pope Francis rested well during the night. The clinical picture is progressively improving and the scheduled treatments are continuing. This morning, after having breakfast, he read some newspapers and resumed work. Before lunch, he went to the chapel of the private apartment, where he gathered in prayer and received the Eucharist.”

BREAKING NEWS – IN BRIEF

BREAKING NEWS – An Italian website, Il Fatto Quotidiano has just reported that “Pope Francis was taken by ambulance to the Gemelli hospital in Rome and the audiences scheduled for the next two days were cancelled. This morning, Bergoglio regularly held the usual Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square. Immediately afterwards he returned to his residence, Casa Santa Marta, but suddenly canceled the interview he was supposed to record for the A Sua Immagine program with the presenter Lorena Bianchett.” (ORIGINAL ITALIAN: Papa Francesco ricoverato al Gemelli: arrivato in ambulanza, annullate udienze dei prossimi giorni – Il Fatto Quotidiano

The article goes on to say appointments and audiences in coming days have been cancelled.   They did quote the Holy See Press Director but used only his words that you find below in his original statement.

I want to follow up on this story as well as the one about a new entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica for prayer-goers because, with all the information it gives, the story does not state where that entrance is! I spoke to some gendarmes in a Vatican office this morning and they did tell me that people still have to go through security. I was there to get a new Vatican ID card – nothing could have been easier, thank the Lord. I’ll try to get to the square and verify where that entrance is.

IN BRIEF

POPE AT ROME HOSPITAL FOR SCHEDULED TESTS: Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni said in a statement this afternoon that, “The Holy Father is at Gemelli since this afternoon for some previously scheduled check-ups.” The statement does not say if the Pope was admitted to Gemelli hospital or is there only for tests. (“Il Santo Padre si trova da questo pomeriggio al Gemelli per alcuni controlli precedentemente programmati.”)

FABRIC OF ST PETER’S FACILITATES ENTRY TO ST PETER’S BASILICA FOR PILGRIMS: A new initiative has been announced by the Fabric of Saint Peter (“Fabbrica di San Pietro”) – the Vatican institution responsible for the conservation and maintenance of St Peter’s Basilica – to make entry into the Vatican Basilica quicker and easier for those wishing to pray and participate in the Sacraments. A statement from the Fabbrica reads that “a new passageway dedicated to pilgrims and prayer-goers was opened in St Peter’s Square ad experimentum” on Tuesday morning, with the collaboration of the Vatican’s Italian Inspectorate of Public Security, the Governorate of the Vatican City State, and the Vatican Gendarmerie. The opening hours of the new route will be the same as those of the Basilica: every day from 6.50 am until 6.40 pm, and that admission does not require a ticket. FOR FULL STORY: Fabric of St Peter’s facilitates entry to St Peter’s Basilica for pilgrims – Vatican News

(CNA) –BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN FOR TLM ERECTED NEAR VATICAN – A group of Traditional Latin Mass supporters in Italy has sponsored a billboard campaign in a neighborhood near the Vatican. The campaign includes about a dozen billboards in four different designs. They were put up March 28 and will stay in place for 15 days, according to its organizers. Each billboard features a quotation in support of the Latin Mass from either Pope Benedict XVI, St. John Paul II, or Pope Pius V. Across the top, the billboards say: “For love of the pope. For the peace and unity of the Church. For the liberty of the Traditional Latin Mass.” ‘For love of the pope’: Latin Mass supporters post billboards near Vatican | Catholic News Agency