resting in Vatican City late Thursday, February 10, after leaving a Rome hospital and promising to continue as the spiritual head of 1.1 billion Catholics.
Italian media quoted Vatican spokesperson Joaquin Navarro Valls as telling Vatican Radio that "the Pope was impatient to go back to the Vatican and deal with future appointments."
Vatican watchers said it was significant that the 84-year old pope left Rome’s Polyclinic Agostino Gemelli hospital, not in an ambulance, but in public view, waving from behind the protective glass of his white popemobile as he was driven home to the Vatican.
It was also seen as a direct challenge to suggestions from within even the church that the pontiff may resign. On Wednesday, February 9, the Vatican’s No. 2 did not rule out that Pope John Paul II would retire, saying that the rules of the church allow the pontiff to step down.
"CONCIENCE QUESTION"
"He can resign, and it’s a question of his conscience," Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger told reporters. "The pope must do what he thinks to be the will of God to accomplish his mission," Lustiger said. Church experts say the last time a pontiff willingly resigned was in 1294 when Pope Celestine V, who assumed the papacy at age 85 stepped down five months later, saying he was not up to the task.
On Thursday, February 10, however, spokesperson Navarro tried to play down resignation talks, saying "as much as possible the Pope would like to resume his schedule and meet with people whose appointments had to be cancelled for a few days. "
He stressed that Sunday’s Angelus prayer in the hospital "was moving, when the Pope told those at the hospital that he would take their entreaties to the Lord. And yesterday’s visit with that child who had wanted to see the Pope for days, was also touching. The Holy Father said, ‘take my benediction to all you friends in the oncology department, where you’re staying’."
FULLY AWARE
Navarro reportedly also suggested that the pope was fully aware of what was going on within the Catholic Church. "As far as his work is concerned, we can say that it wasn’t interrupted, because we were able to bring things to the Pope’s attention through the Secretary of State. Now, when the Pope comes back, he will take a look at his agenda and decide if something can be moved."
Yet news reports said that his forehead was also smeared with the traditional mark of mortality, when he celebrated Ash Wednesday in his room, missing public prayers opening
the Lenten season of fasting and reflection for the first time in his over 26 years papacy.
He reportedly received ashes he had blessed earlier during a ceremony at the hospital, where he was rushed on February 1 with the flu and breathing difficulties. The latest problems underscored concern among Catholics around the world, including in his homeland Poland, where prayer vigils have been held for the health of the pontiff. Pope John Paul II was already visibly weakened from Parkinson’s disease and hip and knee ailments.
His speech has been slurred for some years and because of difficulties to even stand, he now uses a wheeled throne pushed by aides.
(BosNewsLife News Center, reports from Vatican City)
