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Cardinal Parolin: ‘I spoke with Pope Leo, who is an example of great serenity’
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin shares with journalists his hope for the Pope’s quick recovery from surgery, saying everyone is accompanying Pope Leo with prayer and affection.
Vatican News
On the morning before Pope Leo XIV would be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for surgery to remove a “lung nodule confined to a limited area,” the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, expressed his closeness to the Pope, and praised the Holy Father’s serenity.
He spoke to journalists asking about Pope Leo’s health on the sidelines of a conference at the Pontifical Gregorian University entitled “John Paul I: Iustitia et Pax: ‘Safeguarding and Promoting Peace in This Troubled World’,” organized by the Vatican John Paul I Foundation, of which the Cardinal is president.
“We were all struck by his serenity,” the Cardinal said, referring to the composure with which the Pope conveyed the announcement about the upcoming surgery at his Sunday Angelus.
“We hope, as he said, that we are right at the beginning of this difficulty and that the problem can therefore be resolved as soon as possible. We are confident,” he said. “Naturally, we are all accompanying him with our prayers and affection.”
Great serenity
The Vatican Secretary of State explained that he had spoken with Pope Leo on Monday afternoon.
“We spoke very calmly. The Holy Father truly is a great example in this regard,” he said.
“I am concerned,” Cardinal Parolin acknowledged, “because I certainly did not expect something like this to happen.” However, he noted that it was a condition “which, thank God, was detected immediately” and which could therefore be addressed “as soon as possible.”
“Normally, when these things are caught in time, they can be resolved,” he added.
God’s surprises
The Cardinal also reflected on the great outpouring of affection from people around the world for the Pope.
“This shows how much Pope Leo is loved, appreciated and followed by everyone,” he said, encouraging people to continue expressing their closeness to the Pope as he undergoes the procedure.
“Was it a bolt from the blue?” a journalist asked.
“Yes, certainly,” Cardinal Parolin replied, “because no one expected it. But these are, as the Pope said, God’s surprises.”
Cardinal Kikuchi’s closeness
On Monday, Cardinal Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo, posted on Facebook following his private meeting with the Holy Father.
He explained that at 9:30 A.M. he was granted an audience with Holy Father together with the Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis. The Cardinal said he had a private conversation with the Holy Father before the audience with the two of them.
“Though he assured me that this is a minor operation and he feels nothing wrong with his body, and he said he had decided to go for the operation as soon as possible not to change his plan of Latin America visit.” Cardinal Kikuchi concluded. “We have to keep Holy Father in our prayers.”
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