Pope Francis talks with young hospital patients who joined him on the balcony to lead the Angelus at Gemelli hospital in Rome on Sunday, July 11, 2021. He is recovering from scheduled colon surgery which took place eight days ago, on the evening of Sunday, July 4. (CNS photo/Vatican Media via Reuters)
“Why do children suffer? Why children suffer is a question that touches the heart. Accompany them with prayer, and pray for all the sick, especially those in more difficult conditions. May no one be left alone. May everyone receive the anointing of listening, closeness and care. Let us ask this through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, Health of the Sick.” —Pope Francis, yesterday in Rome during his noon Angelus. The Pope has been recuperating from surgery for 8 days, and yesterday met with some of the children who are also being cared for in the hospital (here is an EWTN video of the Angelus, which will allow you to see for yourself how well the Pope is doing). Yesterday the Pope also noted that July 11 was the Feast of St. Benedict, the Patron Saint of Europe
“Only in this way, in the face of life’s difficulties, can one always put oneself on the line, fighting without giving up, with hope and trust.” —Pope Francis, reflecting on the determined attitude of sportsmen who, as they enter and engage in each competition, know they may face defeat, though striving for victory. The Pope offered this reflection to those with him, evidently yesterday evening, in the context of two widely followed soccer games on Sunday, one in South America, one in Europe. In South America, Argentina defeated Brazil in the Copa America (the Pope is, of course, Argentine). In Europe, Italy defeated England to win the Euro 2020 cup (the Pope is also, of course, the Bishop of Rome, Italy’s capital, and so, naturally, would have rejoiced at Italy’s victory)
Letter #51, Monday, July 12, 2021: Francis #3
Pope Francis seems to be recovering well from his colon surgery of eight days ago (on the evening of July 4).
He has been out of his hospital bed, visiting other patients in the Roman hospital where he is staying, and yesterday prayed the noon Angelus (article on his remarks of yesterday at bottom).
However, as a precaution, the Vatican announced today that he will stay in the hospital a bit longer than originally planned to recuperate.
“In order to optimize his medical and rehabilitation therapy, the Holy Father will remain in hospital for a few more days,” Press Office Director Matteo Bruni — a very quiet, thoughtful man who goes about his work very calmly and effectively — said today in an official communique on the Pope’s health.
Here is Bruni’s complete communique:
His Holiness Pope Francis has spent a quiet day and has completed the immediate post-operative course.
In order to optimize his medical and rehabilitation therapy, the Holy Father will remain in hospital for a few more days.
Yesterday, before the Angelus prayer, he wanted to meet some young patients from the nearby Oncology ward, with their families, who then accompanied him to the tenth floor terrace for the Marian prayer.
Afterwards, he greeted the patients on the floor and spoke briefly with the medical and nursing staff.
In the afternoon, he celebrated Holy Mass in the private chapel with the staff who assist him daily.
Sharing the joy of the victory of the Argentine and Italian national teams with those close to him, His Holiness considered the meaning of sport and its values, and the sporting ability of being able to accept any result, even defeat: “Only in this way, in the face of life’s difficulties, can one always put oneself on the line, fighting without giving up, with hope and trust.”
Here is a Catholic News Agency report on these events:
Pope Francis Will Stay Longer in Hospital, Vatican Says (link)
On July 11, Pope Francis led the Sunday Angelus from a balcony on the 10th floor of the Gemelli Hospital, where his operation and recovery are taking place.
By Hannah Brockhaus, CNA (Catholic News Agency)
July 12, 2021
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will stay longer in hospital to recover from a surgery on his colon, the Vatican said on Monday.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said July 12 that the Pope would remain at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for “a few more days” before being discharged, “to optimize the medical and rehabilitation therapy.”
Francis was originally expected to stay around seven days, barring complications.
Bruni said that the pope spent a “calm day” yesterday and that he offered Mass again in the private chapel of his hospital suite.
Pope Francis was hospitalized on July 4 to undergo an operation to relieve stricture of the colon caused by diverticulitis, a common condition that involves the formation of small bulges or sacs on the wall of the colon.
On July 11, Pope Francis led the Sunday Angelus from a balcony on the 10th floor of the Gemelli Hospital, where his operation and recovery are taking place.
“In these days of being hospitalized, I have experienced how important good health care is, accessible to all, as it is in Italy and in other countries,” Pope Francis said in his first public appearance after his surgery.
He also expressed his appreciation and encouragement to doctors, healthcare workers, and hospital staff. “They work so hard,” the Pope said.
Young patients stood beside Francis and waved as he delivered his address.
“And let us pray for all the sick. Here are some friends who are sick children,” he said, gesturing to the children next to him.
Bruni said on July 12 that, “before the recitation of the Angelus, [on July 11, Pope Francis] wished to meet some young patients from the nearby oncology ward with their families who, subsequently, accompanied him to the terrace on the 10th floor on the occasion of the Marian prayer.”
“At the end, he greeted the hospitalized patients on the floor, chatting briefly with the medical and nursing staff,” the Vatican spokesman added.
While in hospital, the Pope has been staying in a wing reserved for papal medical emergencies, in the same suite where St. John Paul II stayed for various medical treatments during his pontificate.
According to Bruni, Pope Francis reflected on the victories of the Argentine and Italian national soccer teams.
Argentina triumphed over Brazil in the Copa America and Italy beat England to win Euro 2020 on July 11.
“His Holiness,” the spokesman said, “dwelt on the meaning of sport and its values, and on that sporting ability to be able to accept any result, even defeat: ‘Only in this way, faced with the difficulties of life, can we always get involved, fighting without giving up, with hope and trust,’” the Pope said.
A 10-person medical team was involved in Francis’ surgery on July 4, which was carried out under general anesthesia, lasted about three hours, and included a left hemicolectomy, the removal of one side of the colon.
This was Francis’ first major operation during his pontificate. In 2019, he had an outpatient surgery for cataracts and he occasionally suffers from flare-ups of sciatic pain.
“At this particular moment, [Pope Francis] looks toward all those who suffer, expressing his closeness to the sick, especially those most in need of care,” Bruni said in one of the Holy See’s daily health bulletins.
And here is a Catholic News Agency article on the Pope’s remarks yesterday at his Sunday, July 11 noon Angelus:
Pope Francis prays the Angelus from his hospital balcony (link)
By Courtney Mares, CNA (Catholic News Agency)
Rome, Italy, Jul 11, 2021 / 05:45 am (CNA).
In his first public appearance since having an intestinal surgery, Pope Francis prayed the Angelus from the balcony of his hospital on Sunday and delivered a message urging access to good healthcare for everyone.
“In these days of being hospitalized, I have experienced how important good health care is, accessible to all, as it is in Italy and in other countries,” Pope Francis said July 11.
“A free healthcare system that assures good service, accessible to everyone. This precious benefit must not be lost. It needs to be kept. And for this we all need to be committed, because it serves everyone and requires everyone’s contribution.”
The Pope spoke while standing beside young patients from Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital where he has been recovering for one week after an intestinal operation in which part of his colon was removed.
Pope Francis said that even when Catholic hospitals face economic difficulties, it is vital to remember that “the Church’s vocation is not to have money, but to serve, and service is always free.”
“Don’t forget this: Save free institutions,” the Pope said.
Doctors and nurses stood together with a group of pilgrims gathered outside in the courtyard under the hospital window. People waved flags and banners, and some religious sisters sang hymns as they awaited the pope’s arrival.
“I would like to express my appreciation and my encouragement to the doctors and all healthcare workers and hospital staff at this hospital and other hospitals. They work so hard,” the Pope said.
Young patients stood beside the Pope and waved as he delivered his Angelus address.
“And let us pray for all the sick. Here are some friends who are sick children,” the pope said gesturing to the children next to him.
During the pope’s week-long hospital stay, Francis exchanged affectionate messages with the young patients in the nearby pediatric oncology and children’s neurosurgery wards.
“Why do children suffer? Why children suffer is a question that touches the heart,” the pope said.
“Accompany them with prayer, and pray for all the sick, especially those in more difficult conditions. May no one be left alone. May everyone receive the anointing of listening, closeness and care. Let us ask this through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, Health of the Sick.”
Pope Francis was hospitalized on July 4 to undergo an operation to relieve stricture of the colon caused by diverticulitis, a common condition that involves the formation of small bulges or sacs on the wall of the colon.
The Vatican confirmed earlier this week that the 84-year-old pope had suffered a “severe” narrowing of the colon.
A 10-person medical team was involved in Francis’ surgery, which was carried out under general anesthesia, lasted about three hours and included a left hemicolectomy, the removal of one side of the colon.
The Vatican spokesman said July 5 that the pope was expected to spend seven days recovering in the hospital, “barring complications.”
Pope Francis has been recovering on the 10th floor of the sprawling polyclinic in a wing reserved for papal medical emergencies.
It is the same room where John Paul II stayed during many of his hospital treatments, including for a colon surgery in 1992 and his hospitalization after being shot in an assassination attempt in 1981.
This is Francis’ first major operation during his pontificate. In 2019, he had an outpatient surgery for cataracts and he occasionally suffers from flare-ups of sciatic pain.
After praying the Angelus with the crowd, the Pope said that he has prayed for the people of Haiti after their president was assassinated on July 7.
“I join in the heartfelt appeal of the country’s Bishops to ‘lay down your arms, choose life, choose to live together fraternally in the interest of all and in the interest of Haiti,’” he said.
“I am close to the dear Haitian people; I hope that the spiral of violence will end and the nation will be able to resume its journey towards a future of peace and harmony.”
Speaking from the hospital balcony, the pope also thanked everyone who has prayed for him during his hospitalization.
“I have felt your closeness and the support of your prayers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
Pope Francis reflected on this Sunday’s Scripture reading from chapter six of the Gospel of Mark in which Jesus’ disciples “anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.”
He said: “This ‘oil’ makes me think of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, which gives comfort to spirit and body. But this ‘oil’ is also listening, the closeness, the care, the tenderness of those who take care of the sick person: it is like a caress that makes you feel better, soothes your pain and cheers you up.”
“Sooner or later all of us, all of us, need this ‘anointing’ of closeness and tenderness, and we can all give it to someone else, with a visit, a phone call, a hand outstretched to someone who needs help.”
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