Great news. I've been out of the "loop" all day. Thanks for the ping.
TWO CARDINALS VISIT THE HOLY FATHER
VATICAN CITY, MAR 2, 2005 (VIS) - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, met yesterday with the Holy Father for a brief work session in his room at Gemelli Hospital and, upon leaving, spoke with journalists, telling them that the Pope "spoke to me in German and Italian. He was very alert and will work on the material that I brought him. I am very happy to see the Holy Father fully present mentally and capable of saying a few essential things in his words."
The cardinal told the media that he had brought "greetings from the Congregation for Divine Worship which is currently meeting in plenary session. I also brought greetings from many others and even some work from our congregation."
In remarks made to the German language program of Vatican Radio, Cardinal Ratzinger spoke of the Holy Father's suffering:
"The example of a Pope who suffers is very important as we have seen in recent years: suffering is a special way of preaching. From the many letters I have received and also from direct personal witnesses, I have seen many suffering people who now feel accepted. The Association for Parkinson's Patients has written to me, thanking the Pope because he helps the ill to strengthen their image, so to speak, because the Holy Father has the courage to appear in public as a person who suffers and who continues to work. Through his suffering John Paul II has communicated many things to us: that suffering is a phase on the path of life, and that he participates in the passion of Jesus Christ, showing us how fruitful suffering can be when we share it with the Lord and live it together with all those who suffer in the world. In this way, suffering takes on a great value and can be something positive. When we look at the Pope's life, we see that this is an important message, especially in a world that tends to hide or even erase pain."
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, archbishop of Westminster, England, visited the Holy Father this morning. The cardinal told journalists that "in health or in sickness, in great strength or in weakness, the Pope is offering a witness of faith to the Lord and to his extraordinary mission in today's world."
****************************************************** (end of press release) Question to all: This is the first that I've heard of the Pope speaking since his operation. Is this true? If so, it's cause for great joy!