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 published: 2005-03-02

Mother, visit him!

The Pope's Health and prayers in difficult times

Madre, ¡visitalo!

Mother, visit him!

Gottesmutter, besuche ihn!

Foto: POS Fischer © 2005

 

ROME, Fr. Alberto Eronit. Rome is on its knees again. Once again, the surprising sight of people praying the rosary on their knees, or in a profound, meditative manner, around Policlinic Gemelli. Everythings seems like fifteen days ago, or that everything is starting again. There is preoccupation over the Pope's health and life, precisely today when the temperature went up noticeable and the sky looked clean and radiant, as if announcing the coming of Spring.

What has happened? Surely the newspapers and other media have provided good information, since everything is channeled through the press office of the Holy See, not even the doctors from the Policlinic have given - up to now- a report,which doesn't mean they won't do it later. The problem with Parkinson is the progressive paralysis of the muscles of the respiratory area: lung, bronchials,etc. Since the cold of three weeks ago, the Pope has not been completely well. Was his return too soon? It is hard to know, at any rate, it seemed that he was doing well and that the week of spiritual exercises had permitted him to continue recuperating. However, his weakened body not only had not overcome the critical point, but he was exposed to any complication. That is what happened yesterday.

When he was admitted four weeks ago it was thought that a tracheotomy might be done, at the end it was not necessary. However, there was a latent threat if new respiratory complications arose, be it from a cold, Parkinson, or any other complication. This is what occurred the night before last and it was decided that he be admitted again. The small operation went well, the Pope is recuperating well, but the danger of an infection has grown and no one can say anything with certainty about the near future. That is where we are today.

Without a doubt behind all the signs of preoccupation and solidarity there is love, much love of the person of John Paul II

I am impressed, once again, at the reaction of all kinds of people. Without a doubt behind all the signs of preoccupation and solidarity there is love, much love of the person of John Paul II, sign of Christ the Shepherd who leads his Church. The newspapers are providing a noticeable amount of space. I have before me "La Reubblica", which has seven pages of coverage with titles such as: "The Pope Undergoes Surgery, Respiratory Crisis", "The Last Few Night Were Terrible, The worst is expected", "In the Vatican

Palaces, Time is Suspended", "From A Cough to an Emergency. Woytla, the night of emergency", "Italy forms lines around the Pope", etc. These are not only titles, there truly is preoccupation.

It is said that after the exercises, except for two private audiences and his appearance by closed circuit TV on Wednesday, the Pope has had "working" noon meals. Some Cardinals - the most diligent was Cardinal A. Sodano, Secretary of State - would sit at the table to "dine" with the Pope, but in reality what the Cardinal did was to pose some urgent topics, suggest solutions, and wait for a response from the Pope. Perhaps the most pathetic thing occurred last Thursday, when the Pope was to preside over the

Consistory (meeting of Cardinals residing in Rome) and he asked Cardinal Sodano to preside. An old Cardinal commented: "What are we doing here if the Pope is missing, if the head is missing?"

"What should we do?' What are we to do?" At the moment wait with Christian hope. It is the Spirit who guides the Church and it is he that marks the times. What we are supposed to do is to pray, support the Pope - who is not having it easy, be for his health or for his responsibility before the Church - with our prayers of Cyreneans.

I am happy to pray to our Blessed Mother with the words of our Father and Founder: "Mother, visit him. For him who became such a child of Mary, there is nothing better than to ask our Mother to "visit" him and give him the tender support of a Mother.

These are difficult days for the Pope, and at the same time, for the Church. May our love for the Church manifest itself in prayer so that God will fill the Pope and the Church with his mercy.

Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA



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