Tag: vatican city

Respiratory Infection: Pope Francis to spend days in hospital

The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has a respiratory infection and will need to spend a few days in hospital in Rome, the Vatican says.

The 86-year-old, who also is the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City, had breathing difficulties in recent days but does not have Covid, a statement said.

It said he would need “a few days of appropriate hospital medical therapy”.

“Pope Francis is touched by the many messages received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer,” the statement added.

His closest staff, including security, are expected to stay the night at the Gemelli Hospital, a person with direct knowledge said.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that this is the busiest time of the year for Pope Francis, with many events and services scheduled ahead of Easter weekend.

A Palm Sunday Mass is scheduled this weekend, and Holy Week and Easter celebrations next week.

He is also scheduled to visit Hungary at the end of April.

On Wednesday morning, he presided over his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square. He appeared in good spirits but was seen grimacing as he was helped into his vehicle.

The Vatican initially said the Pope had gone to hospital for a previously scheduled check-up, but Italian media have questioned this account after a television interview was cancelled at short notice.

US President, Biden’s reaction

Reacting to the news, President Joe Biden asked people to make an “extra prayer” for the Pope’s recovery.

Mr Biden, who is only the second Roman Catholic to be elected leader of the US, also described the pontiff as one of the “most Christ-like figures I’ve ever met”.

People in the Pope’s home city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, shared their feelings with Reuters news agency. One man, Daniel Saco, said the pontiff “must ask himself whether he can continue”.

“It is very sad because, as a Latin American, I feel represented by this Pope, who is very open-minded and human,” said Victoria Veira, who is originally from Brazil.

Anibal Pizelle, who met the Pope when he was bishop of Buenos Aires, said she was optimistic for a recovery as Francis was “physically and mentally strong” and a “person with enormous faith”.

The Pope has used a wheelchair in recent months because of mobility problems related to his knee.

He also underwent surgery to treat a colon problem in 2021. In January, he said the condition had returned.

Despite his ailments, the Pope has remained active and has undertaken trips abroad. He visited the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in February.

In January, the Pope led the funeral of his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI – who was the first pope to step down voluntarily for centuries. He said this was due to ill health.

Pope Francis has previously indicated that he may also wish to follow in Benedict’s footsteps in the event that his health deteriorates.

March 30, 2023
BREAKING: Former Pope Benedict XVI is dead

Former Pope Benedict XVI is dead, coming almost a decade after he stood down from the position due to ill health.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Pope Benedict XVI was a retired prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013.

Benedict’s election as pope occurred in the 2005 papal conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II.

As per a report by Vatican News, Pope Benedict XVI died at 9:34 AM on Saturday morning at his Vatican residence. He was aged 95.

“With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 AM in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.

“Further information will be provided as soon as possible. As of Monday morning, 2 January 2023, the body of the Pope Emeritus will be in Saint Peter’s Basilica so the faithful can bid farewell,” the report reads.

In the next few hours, the Holy See Press Office will communicate details for the funeral rite.

December 31, 2022
Major shake-up hits Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG

A major reorganizational tsunami has hit the Redeemed Christian Church of God with compulsory retirements and redeployment of top echelon Pastors in the Church.

Top on the list is the Church’s National Overseer, Pastor Joseph Obayemi who was retired seemingly on account of reaching the age of 70.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye who made the shocking announcement during a meeting with the Church’s ministers on Sunday also announced that Pastor Sunday Akande is to replace Obayemi as the RCCG National Overseer. He will serve for two years.

Promoted too is Pastor Kalu Ndukwe who will serve as the Overseer of the Africa Continent

Daddy GO as Pastor Adeboye is fondly called also gave an hint as to who would take over from him, saying the person is going to be a young person.

Another shocking change is the removal of Pastor Johnson Odesola who has been in charge of the Administration and Personnel of the Church. He was relieved of the two portfolios. Two pastors were appointed to handle the portfolios.

The new pastor in charge of Personnel is Julius Olalekan while Pastor Dele Balogun was appointed to take charge of Admin. It is not yet clear the new designation of Pastor Odesola who also serves as the Overseer of the RCCG in the Middle East.

The RCCG which is currently celebrating its 70^th anniversary was established in 1952 by Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi who passed on in 1980.

Before his transition, Akindayomi had instructed that Pastor Adeboye who joined the Church in 1973 would succeed him as the General Overseer. Adeboye stepped into Akindayomi’s shoes in 1981.

He has served in that position for more than 41 years and still counting.

In December 2016 Pastor Adeboye appointed Pastor Obayemi as the church’s overseer in Nigeria. Obayemi was given an additional portfolio to serve as the Overseer of the RCCG in North Africa in 2021. He was also addressed as an Officer in charge of Nigeria.

But Pastor Adeboye announced his retirement along with some others during the ministers’ conference. Obayemi is in his 70s.

Adeboye explained that the retirement age for all RCCG pastors will now be pegged at 70 years. He said however that some of them may be given lesser roles after retirement.

The RCCG has now pegged the retirement age at 70, adding that those who are interested still will be given less stressful positions to manage.

Meanwhile, pa Adeboye said the position of the national overseer of the church will now be on a two-year tenure basis while the pastor occupying the position will operate from the redemption camp.

All churches in the camp would henceforth report to him. He will also represent Pastor Adeboye in special assignments

The Redemption Camp according to Pastor Adeboye will henceforth carry the tag of a city just like the Vatican City.

He banned hawking and selling of goods along the roads in the camp saying such practice will no longer be tolerated. Offenders will be prosecuted while their goods will be confiscated. Indecent dressing in the camp environment will no longer be tolerated according to him.

Adeboye who clocked 80 early this year also named the ring road on the camp after the founder of the church, Pastor Josiah Akindayomi. Some other roads were named after some retired pastors of the church.

The RCCG overseer informed further at the ministers’ meeting that the maximum speed limit on the camp is now 40 KMH. He said those who exceed the limit would be prosecuted.

The old secretariat of the church according to Pastor Adeboye would be converted into a museum where historical items on the RCCG would be exhibited.

August 8, 2022
Coronavirus: Panic as Pope appears in public ill, cancels planned retreat

There was panic at the Vatican City on Sunday after Pope Francis said he was cancelling a planned six-day spiritual retreat south of Rome after coming down with a “cold”.

“Unfortunately, a cold forced me not to take part this year,” the 83-year-old pontiff said after coughing a couple of times during his weekly Sunday appearance from a Vatican window in front of supporters.

The cancellation of the retreat, which was supposed to start Sunday, came as Italy battles Europe’s worst outbreak of the new coronavirus that has spread from China across much of the world.

The number of cases in Italy surpassed 1,000 on Saturday.

There have been 29 confirmed deaths and 105 people were receiving intensive care treatment in hospital — all of them in three adjacent northern regions near Milan.

The Vatican quickly shot down speculation that the pope himself had come down with COVID-19.

“There is no evidence to suggest a diagnosis of anything other than a slight ailment,” a Vatican spokesman told AFP Sunday.

The pope himself looked relatively strong Sunday despite two coughing fits that forced him to briefly turn away from the crowd.

Yet concerns about his health have been mounting for days.

He first looked like he might have a cold on Wednesday and lightened his workload for the rest of the week.

The Vatican said a “mild ailment” had forced him to spend Thursday around his Saint Martha’s guest house in the Vatican.

But he still continued celebrating the morning mass and receiving visitors even as public events were cancelled and schools closed across swathes of Italy this week because of the coronavirus outbreak.

He met with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church head Sviatoslav Shevchuk and was meant to join the entire Roman Curia — the Holy See’s administrative institutions — at the retreat on Sunday.

He was also due to celebrate a daily mass in a chapel and listen to the teachings of a Jesuit preacher while seated alongside members of the Curia.

The Argentine-born pontiff lost part of a lung as a young man and suffers from sciatica — a nerve condition that causes pain in his hip.

Yet he rarely cancels appointments and enjoys mingling with supporters and the faithful.

March 1, 2020