- Title: ITALY: SPECIALISTS CONCERNED OVER HEALTH OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
- Date: 7th February 2005
- Summary: (BN12)ROME, ITALY (FEBRUARY 6, 2005)(REUTERS) 1. SLV PAN/SLV VATICAN 0.10 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) REUTERS VATICAN CORRESPONDENT PHILIP PULLELLA SAYING: "Well, while it was refreshing to see the pope after a week that he has been out of the public eye and five days after he's been hospitalised, it was a bit worrying that he could hardly pronounce the blessing and he could hardly recite less than a second, so that was a bit worrying." 0.30 3. VATICAN 0.33 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PULLELLA, SAYING: "Well, I think that one of the most important aspects of what was said for him by one of his aides is that he is continuing to serve the church and humanity from his hospital bed. Why is this important? This is important because since he has been hospitalised and since his health has been deteriorating, there has been a lot of talk that he is no longer in charge of the church, that he can no longer serve the church. So he said, even though he said it through the words of an aide, that he is still serving the church and serving humanity even from this hospital, to put it in his own words, that was very significant that he said that." 1.08 5. SLV PEOPLE WALKING NEAR VATICAN 1.10 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 22nd February 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- Reuters ID: LVA6DNHK34P6ONW7XPOL29S5SNUJ
- Story Text: Vatican specialists concerned that Pope John Paul II
was not able to speak well during his hospital appearance.
Pope John Paul, looking weak and barely able to
talk, appeared from his hospital window on Sunday (February
6, 2005) for the first time since he was taken ill and said
through an aide that he was still serving the Church and
all humanity.
Despite his appearance many Vatican experts say they
are concerned that he was unable to say more than a few
words.
"While it was refreshing to see the pope after a week
that he has been out of the public eye and five days after
he's been hospitalised, it was a bit worrying that he could
hardly pronounce the blessing and he could hardly recite
less than a second," said Reuters correspondent Philip
Pullella.
It was believed to be the first time since his 1978
election that the Pope did not deliver a brief message on
Sunday. Even on May 17, 1981, four days after an
assassination attempt, he read a radio message from his
hospital bed.
"I think that one of the most important aspects of what
was said for him by one of his aides is that he is
continuing to serve the church and humanity from his
hospital bed." Pullella said.
"This is important because since he has been
hospitalised and since his health has been deteriorating,
there has been a lot of talk that he is no longer in charge
of the church, that he can no longer serve the church. So
he said, even though he said it through the words of an
aide, that he is still serving the church and serving
humanity even from this hospital, to put it in his own
words - that was very significant that he said that he said
that," Pullella said.
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