ITALY: REACTIONS TO NEWS THAT POPE JOHN PAUL HAS BEGUN TO SPEAK AGAIN AFTER HIS RECENT THROAT OPERATION

Record ID: 377140

  • Title: ITALY: REACTIONS TO NEWS THAT POPE JOHN PAUL HAS BEGUN TO SPEAK AGAIN AFTER HIS RECENT THROAT OPERATION
  • Date: 1st March 2005
  • Summary: (BN 10) ROME, ITALY (MARCH 1, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. WS'S: EXTERIOR OF ROME'S GEMELLI HOSPITAL, WHERE POPE JOHN PAUL II IS RESTING (2 SHOTS) 0.10 2. CLOSEUP WINDOWS OF THE HOSPITAL SUITE WHERE POPE IS STAYING/ MEDIUM SHOT OF HOSPITAL WINDOW (2 SHOTS) 0.20 3. WS: INTERIOR - HOSPITAL CORRIDOR 0.26 4. INTERIOR - GERMAN CARDINAL JOSEPH RAT
  • Embargoed: 16th March 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA3VA2S30D0OGEO2EQIT59FA7IB
  • Story Text: People are surprised but cheered at news the Pope
    has started speaking again after his recent throat surgery.


    The startling announcement that Pope John Paul had
    started speaking again was made by Cardinal Joseph
    Ratzinger to reporters in the lobby of Rome's Gemelli
    Hospital on Tuesday (March 1) minutes after seeing the Pope.

    The 84-year-old Pope, who suffers from Parkinson's
    Disease and severe arthritis, had a tracheotomy operation
    last Thursday (February 24) to help ease breathing
    problems.

    It involved cutting a small hole in his windpipe and
    inserting a tube to allow air to flow freely into his lungs.

    Ratzin
    ger, one of a handful of people allowed to see
    the Pope since the operation, effectively dismantled
    speculation that the leader of the worlds 1.1 billion Roman
    Catholics would not be able to carry out his duties while
    sick.

    Ratzinger instead painted the picture of a Pope in
    charge, reading documents and making decisions despite his
    illness.

    "The Holy Father spoke to me in German and Italian,"
    said Ratzinger, who as guardian of the Roman Catholic
    doctrine, is one of the top Vatican officials.

    "He was very alert. He will be working on some of the
    documentation that I brought to him. I am very happy to see
    the Pope was very alert."
    The 77-year-old German cardinal and other Vatican
    officials said the Pope was strong enough to attend a Mass
    in his hospital suite on Tuesday morning and was continuing
    speech and breathing rehabilitation therapy.

    News of the Pope's progress was welcomed by Italians at
    the hospital.

    "He is such a strong man, his voice is not a problem
    for him I think he will make an escape back to the Vatican
    to pray for us," said Sonia Fumetti looking up at the
    Pope's window at
    the hospital.

    "The Pope is guided by the Holy Spirit of humanity - he
    will live a long life and this gives me optimism," said one
    of the hospital nurses after hearing the news.

    Many Vatican watchers were surprised that the pontiff
    was already speaking.

    "This is amazing," said Reuters Vatican correspondent
    Philip Pullella.

    "When people have come to talk to doctors at the
    hospital they have expressed concern that the recovery was
    going slowly, that the Pope may not even speak again that
    he would have to wait weeks or months before speaking - so
    this was really, really a big surprise," Pullella said.

    Other visitors at the Gemelli on Thursday included a
    group of Polish pilgrims from the town of Olsztyn. They
    prayed and sang under the Pope's window, and expressed hope
    he will get
    better soon.

    "We are happy we can stay here and be near him," said
    one young pilgrim.

    The Pope was rushed to hospital last Thursday for the
    second time this month with breathing difficulties. Doctors
    performed a tracheotomy to make it easier for him to
    breathe.

    The Vatican has not said when the Pope might leave
    hospital, raising the possibility that for the first time
    in his papacy he might miss or curtail Easter services
    later this month.

    For the first time in his 26-year Pontificate, the Pope
    failed on Sunday to deliver the weekly Angelus prayer, but
    he did make a surprise appearance at his hospital window,
    waving weakly and making a sign of the cross.

    Medical experts have said the Pope's rehabilitation
    could take weeks, raising the possibility that for the
    first time in his papacy he might miss Easter services at
    the end of the month.




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