www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News The Holy Father readmitted to the Gemelli

Correct Tammy - it has never been confirmed - but all the indications are there . Many neurologists when questioned all seem to believe he has Parkinsons so I don't think we can expect more.

Mind - having said that the Vatican has never denied it either .

Anhelyna

Thanks, Anhelyna!

My husband gets very indignant when news stories say, "The Pope, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease..." because it has never been confirmed by the Vatican. If they felt it was any of the media's business, they would have released a statement.

I mean, really, he is an old man and old people have health problems. It's a part of life. So leave him alone and stop invading his privacy! What conditions or diseases he has are his business. They have no right to keep pushing the issue that he should retire, if he doesn't want to.

Tammy

I've never quite understood why they never just made a simple acknowledgement, "Yes, the Pope has Parkinson's disease," and left it at that. There's nothing shameful about it, after all.

Well, if you watch someone with Dystonic Spasms you can see very similar movements. You loose control of your voluntary muscles, they spasm the way the want to when they want to. So I imagine it could be any number of things/illnesses.

Pani Rose

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 2, 2005 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II, still recovering in the hospital from his tracheotomy, named a new bishop for Brazil.

Father Eduardo Pinheiro da Silva, director of pastoral care of the Salesian community in Aracatuba, was named an auxiliary of Archbishop Vitorio Pavanello of Campo Grande, the Vatican press office reported today.

The appointment of bishops is published only after the Pope has given his approval. Press sources reported Tuesday that John Paul II has already received documents for his signature.

After visiting the Pope on Tuesday at the Gemelli Polyclinic, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, revealed that he had handed him "some work from our congregation."
ZE05030207

John Paul II Keeping Busy at the Hospital
Meeting With Aides; No Release Date Yet

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 3, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Less than a week after his tracheotomy, John Paul II is scheduling daily meetings in the Gemelli Polyclinic with his aides.

"John Paul II is very anxious to return to the Vatican, but accepts the doctors' decisions," explained Joaqu�n Navarro Valls, director of the Vatican press office, after today reading the latest statement on the Pope's health.

"There is no incompatibility between both things," the spokesman said. "The Pope is calm, as he is beginning to follow from the hospital the activities of the Holy See, receiving the secretary of state, the cardinals responsible for dicasteries, as he usually did in the Vatican."

Navarro Valls continued: "The health of the Holy Father John Paul II continues to improve and show progress. As previously stated, the Pope is eating regularly and spends several hours each day in an armchair."

"The surgical wound is healing," he explained, in reference to last Thursday's tracheotomy. "Daily sessions for rehabilitation of breathing and speaking continue, with the active collaboration of the Holy Father."

The Vatican spokesman said that, unless there are new developments, the "next statement on the Pope's health will be issued on Monday, March 7, at 12:30 p.m."

Today, the Vatican press office announced the two latest episcopal appointments made by the Pope -- one for Burlington, Vermont, the other for Mazatlan, Mexico -- and a papal message addressed to the plenary assembly of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

Normally, the Pope meets at least once a week with each of the cardinals or archbishops who hold posts of special responsibility in the Vatican. These meetings are now being held in the Gemelli Polyclinic.

On Wednesday, the Pontiff met there with the substitute of the Vatican Secretariat of State, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri. On Monday, he plans to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano. On Friday he will receive, for the second time this week, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Over the rest of this week, John Paul II will meet with Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, as well as other officials.

The Pope has labeled the Gemelli "Vatican III," in reference to his other two residences, the Vatican and the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.

Navarro Valls said that it is too early to know when the Pope will leave the hospital.

"It is possible that it will be before Easter, but I would not like to give a hypothetical date," he said.

Regarding Holy Week, which starts March 20, the spokesman said: "The Easter calendar is being adhered to" as in previous years.

"What must be planned and what the Pope will have to decide is, in what way he will participate in these ceremonies," he noted. "The ways he will participate will be studied after his return to the Vatican."

Navarro Valls explained that while John Paul II is hospitalized, he is praying in a small chapel installed next to his room on the 10th floor of the Gemelli, "where he requests to be taken every day."

The spokesman said that he writes the statements on the Pontiff's health with the doctors who are treating him at the hospital, with the coordination of the Holy Father's personal physician, Dr. Renato Buzzonetti.
ZE05030303

Myles,

Thanks for the comprehensive update on the Holy Father's condition and progress.

`````````````````````````````````````````````````

Tammy,

As to your question about whether the Vatican has ever confirmed that the Pope has Parkinsons.

I don't know whether they have or haven't made a public statement about that. Of course, they probably have and I just don't know about it. I do know and agree with Our Lady's Slave of Love that they have never denied it. Also he does appear from his obvious physical condition and limited mobility to have the symptoms.

Anyway, since he is doing better we can continue to hope and pray he will be with us longer. He sure seems determined to get better and go right on serving. God is answering our prayers for his healing and continued recovery. Glory Be!

Blessings,

Mary Jo