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Pope Visits Pediatric Oncology Ward, Baptizes Infant

Pope Francis used his third day at Rome’s Gemelli hospital to visit children hospitalized in the oncology ward and to confer the sacrament of baptism on a tiny infant named Miguel Angel.

The child, who was just a few weeks old, was sleeping peacefully in a portable hospital bassinet as the pope and the mother prepared for the sacrament and medical staff looked on March 31. The Holy See press office provided a video of the baptism and other images of the pope’s visit to the pediatric ward.

The pope was given a small metal emesis basin filled with water. Reciting the baptismal formula in Spanish, he sprinkled the water with his hand on the baby, who loudly protested the sudden shower. He urged the mother to go ahead and try and comfort the infant while the pope made his own attempts by soothing the child’s face and tapping his mouth.

The pope wrote out by hand the baptismal certificate as seen in another image, which also showed the pope’s left wrist wrapped in gauze and an elastic bandage.

The pope spent about 30 minutes visiting the ward, bringing the children rosaries, large chocolate Easter eggs and copies of the book “Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea.”

The surprise visit came the day after the pope enjoyed a pizza “party” with staff on his second night at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.

In the evening of March 30, “Pope Francis had dinner, eating pizza together with those assisting him throughout the days of his hospital stay,” that is, doctors, nurses, assistants and members of the Vatican police, the Vatican press office said March 31.

After breakfast on March 31, “he read some newspapers and resumed work,” it said.

Pope Francis was expected to be able to return to his Vatican residence April 1, the press office said, although the final decision would depend on the results of tests carried out early March 31.

Matteo Bruni, head of the press office, later confirmed the 86-year-old pope’s “presence” at the Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square April 2.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, said, “With the pope at each celebration, there will be a cardinal celebrant who will be at the altar,” the Italian newspaper, La Repubblica reported March 31.

According to Cardinal Re, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri will be the main celebrant at the Palm Sunday Mass and Cardinal Re will be the main celebrant at Easter morning Mass, although the pope will read his traditional message and give his blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).

According to Vatican press office reports, Pope Francis has been showing continued and “marked” improvement for what tests revealed was a case of bronchitis, after he was admitted to the hospital the afternoon of March 29 for breathing difficulties.

The pope was treated with intravenous antibiotics for the respiratory infection that was not COVID-19. The Vatican had said that the pope had complained of “some respiratory difficulties” in recent days.

The Vatican originally said the pope was taken to the hospital for “previously planned tests,” and later stated that he would remain at the hospital for a few days. Pope Francis’ scheduled meetings for March 30 and 31 had been canceled “to make room in his agenda for the tests to continue,” an official said.

After Whirlwind Hospital Stay, Pope Francis To Be Discharged Saturday

The Vatican announced on Friday, March 31, that after spending two days in the hospital, and given his most recent test results, Pope Francis is doing well and is expected to return to the Vatican in time for Holy Week.

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital Wednesday afternoon March 29 after experiencing breathing difficulties and was diagnosed with bronchitis, which has been treated with antibiotics administered through an IV.

Thursday evening the Vatican said the pope was responding well to treatment and had been able to work and pray throughout the day.

In a statement Friday, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope’s clinical status is “normal” and that before retiring Thursday evening, he ate pizza together with the doctors, nurses, medical assistants and staff, and members of the Vatican gendarmes who are assisting him.

“After breakfast, he read some newspapers and resumed his work. His Holiness’ return home to Santa Marta is expected tomorrow, following the results of the latest tests this morning,” Bruni said.

Bruni also confirmed that, should Pope Francis be discharged Saturday as planned, the pontiff plans to be present for his Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square this weekend.

Various Italian media outlets have reported that different cardinals have been tapped to celebrate the Holy Week papal liturgies if Pope Francis is unable to do so.

It is reported that if the pope is unable to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass himself, it will be Italian Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, vice dean of the Vatican’s College of Cardinals and prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, who celebrates at the altar.

Others who are lined up reportedly include Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the Vicar for Rome, for Holy Thursday’s Chrism Mass; Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in St. Peter’s Basilica Thursday evening; and Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, for Easter Mass next Sunday.

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Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 03/30/2023

 

Pope Francis remains in the hospital on Thursday, where he’s being treated for a respiratory infection.

Narcan has been approved for over the counter use amid a growing trend of drug overdoses.

Father Tom Vassalotti is performing at St. Francis of Paola Church in Williamsburg on Friday.

Pope Responding to Treatment for Bronchitis, Vatican Says

At the end of Pope Francis’ first full day in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he is being treated for bronchitis, the Vatican said he is doing well and is responding to treatment, and spent his afternoon resting and in prayer.

In a statement late Thursday evening, the Vatican said Pope Francis spent his afternoon “dedicating himself to rest, prayer, and some work duties.”

According to information provided by the pope’s medical team, he was diagnosed with an “infectious bronchitis” and he is being treated with antibiotics that are being administered through an IV.

So far, the antibiotic treatment “produced the expected effects with a clear improvement” in the state of the pope’s health.

Should he continue to respond well to treatment, the Vatican said it is possible that Pope Francis will be discharged sometime “in the next few days.”

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where popes are traditionally treated and where a private apartment is permanently reserved for papal use, Wednesday afternoon after experiencing respiratory troubles.

Earlier on Thursday the Vatican said Pope Francis rested well overnight and spent his morning reading some newspapers, working, and praying.

His last stay at Gemelli Hospital was in 2021 following an invasive colon surgery, which left him in the hospital for 11 days before returning to the Vatican.

Pope Francis also suffers from a variety of other chronic conditions, including sciatica and knee pain that has largely confined him to the use of a wheelchair or a cane since last May. He also had part of one lung removed due to a severe bout of pneumonia when he was young.

It is unclear if the pope will be discharged in time for his scheduled Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square to kick off Holy Week, or whether he will be in a condition to celebrate his Holy Week liturgies if he is discharged in time.

In the past when he has been unable to make it through an entire papal liturgy, Pope Francis has tapped either Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin or Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, to celebrate the ceremonies while he presides from a chair off to the side.

U.S. Church Leaders Offer Prayers for Pope Francis’ Recovery

Catholic Church leaders around the country offered prayers for Pope Francis following the Vatican’s March 29 announcement that he would be hospitalized in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for a few days to treat a respiratory infection.

Bishop Robert Brennan said in a tweet that afternoon that he “along with so many of the Catholic Faithful, pray for the Holy Father. In fact, we will pray in a special way during the previously scheduled Lenten Pilgrimage at Corpus Christi where I will lead the rosary at 7:30 this evening.”

In a March 30 video message, Bishop Brennan said he prayed the “rosary before the Blessed Sacrament with about 300 people, and we prayed in a particular way, our intention was the health of the Holy Father and for his healing.

“Today I’m over at Immaculate Conception and at Mass we prayed for him as well. I am praying for him, people from all over Brooklyn and Queens are praying. We join people from all around the world.”

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan tweeted that he was “following the updates on the Holy Father through the media. Please join me in keeping him in prayer for a speedy return to health!”

While church leaders offered their prayers and well wishes for the 86-year-old pontiff on social media, the pope similarly used this platform to respond to this outpouring of encouragement. In a March 30 tweet from his Twitter account, @Pontifex, he said: “I am touched by the many messages received in these hours and I express my gratitude for the closeness and prayer.”

Bishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a March 29 statement urging all Catholics to pray for the pope’s recovery.

“We pray intensely for our Holy Father,” he said, adding that on behalf of his brother bishops, he invited “all the faithful to pause, if possible before the Blessed Sacrament” to pray for the pope’s speedy recovery.

“May our dear shepherd and all those in need of healing experience the comfort of Christ,” he said.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark also asked people to join him in prayer for the pope’s “quick and full recovery.” He tweeted on March 29: “May Our Lady Health of the Sick accompany him now and in the days ahead.”

Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez also used Twitter to call on the faithful to pray for the pope and said: “We entrust him to the tender care of Our Lady of Guadalupe and we ask that she keep him close in her love.”

Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory similarly urged those in the Archdiocese of Washington “and people of goodwill everywhere,” to join him in praying for Pope Francis “that he quickly regains his health and strength in order to preside at the ceremonies of Holy Week so central to the life of our Church.”

Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, in a March 29 statement, asked those in the Chicago Archdiocese to pray for the pope’s “swift and complete recovery.

“Over the past month,” he said, “people around the world prayed millions of Hail Marys to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Holy Father’s election to the chair of Peter. We responded then to Pope Francis’ often-repeated request to pray for him. Let us continue our prayers, this time for the return of this extraordinary shepherd to good health and to his work of spreading the joy of God’s love and mercy.”

Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican Press Office, said in a March 30 statement that the pope’s “clinical picture is progressively improving, and he is continuing with his planned treatment.”

The statement also noted that after the pope had breakfast, he read some newspapers and resumed work. Later that morning he prayed in a private chapel in the hospital and received the Eucharist.

Vatican News reported that wishes for the pope’s “speedy recovery are pouring into the Vatican.”

Some have been wondering whether the pope’s health would preclude him from celebrating liturgies during Holy Week. Bishop Brennan said that if the pope is unable to celebrate those liturgies, “there are many senior cardinals in Rome. I’m sure he’ll delegate those responsibilities to the cardinals who assist him.”

Diocese of Brooklyn Priest Showcases Classical Training in Interactive Concert

Bows, strings, keys and voices – each part adds to a collective sound. Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater is the sound of a mother’s unconditional love.

It’s a Christian hymn to Mary depicting her suffering at the foot of the cross during Jesus’ crucifixion.

“The Marian devotion of it makes it more relatable and to combine it with the praying of the stations of the cross will make it more meaningful I think,” said vocalist Emily Bergmann.

“Through these great geniuses who wrote this music, you’re being carried into some deeper place,” said Fr. Tom Vassalotti.


Fr. Tom is providing the deepest pitch in this orchestra on the bass. He’s the pastor of Divine Mercy Parish which includes St. Francis Paola church in Williamsburg. He’s also a classically trained musician and Juilliard graduate.

“God gives you gifts and this buy has been in my life a long time, and music has been part of my life and still is,” he said.

Fr. Tom and fellow Juilliard grad, violinist Eric Grossman put a nine-piece orchestra together. On Friday, they’ll perform the music while parishioners pray the stations of the cross.

“Everything enhances what really needs to be communicated and makes it more vivid and deeper for not only the congregation and people who are here but for us as musicians,” Eric said.

Fr. Tom’s love for music started long before he devoted his life to God, now it’s part of that devotion. Each press, pluck and note is intentional and evokes emotion.

“It’s a place where people throughout history have expressed the very best of themselves in terms of their competence and their art to give the very best and it’s a wonderful lesson for all of us, give the very best of what you have,” he said.

This is the best of who Fr. Tom is. 

Pulse of the Parish: St. Clare’s in Rosedale

A church in Queens that is nearly a century old has experienced many changes over the years, from the landscape of the neighborhood to its demographics.

But one thing has remained the same at St. Clare’s in Rosedale: strong parishioners like Sachara Valme who are passing the faith on  to the next generation.

She is the pulse of the parish for St. Clare. 

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 03/29/2023

 

At The Mary Louis Academy, all the school’s resources are poured into the students’ academic success as they get ready to take on college.

Vigils are being held in Nashville, as the heartbroken community grapples with the mass shooting at The Covenant School.

How one parishioner at St. Clare’s in Rosedale is helping to grow the congregation.