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Boston Globe
06-04-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Recovering Pope surprises pilgrims with a public appearance
'Happy Sunday to everyone, many thanks,' Francis said, waving his hands. A nasal cannula was visible in both nostrils; Francis continues to rely on supplemental oxygen, the Vatican said. Sitting on a wheelchair pushed by his trusted nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, Francis moved through groups of pilgrims — including dozens of doctors and nurses from around the world — who had come to the Vatican on Sunday for this weekend's Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers. 'What a wonderful surprise — the pope still has health problems, but he wanted to give a gift to the faithful,' said Lamberto Rosa, a businessperson who volunteers with the Order of Malta at some Vatican events. 'He has a fighting spirit and wants to be present.' Advertisement Francis has made physical closeness to his flock, dramatic gestures, and a freewheeling style the hallmarks of his pontificate, and his appearance Sunday suggested that he was determined to carry on with that approach despite his physical limitations. Advertisement Since leaving the hospital in March, he has been living in his suite on the second floor of the Vatican guesthouse he calls home. The Vatican press office has repeatedly said that Francis has not been receiving visitors as he convalesces, though it reported Friday that his speech was improving. 'It must have cost him a lot to go through that,' said Giuseppe Vanacore, president of Italy's national association for kidney transplant patients, who was in the square Sunday. Vanacore said he had been moved by the homily the pope had written for the Mass, which was read by Cardinal Rino Fisichella. Before beginning, Fisichella had told those present that Francis, like many ill people, was watching the Mass on television. In the homily, Francis wrote that he had 'much in common with you at this time of my life, dear brothers and sisters who are sick: the experience of illness, of weakness, of having to depend on others in so many things, and of needing their support.' That 'is not always easy,' he wrote. In his traditional Sunday blessing, made public after the Mass, Francis wrote that he prayed 'for doctors, nurses and health workers,' who often worked in difficult conditions. 'Their mission is not easy and must be supported and respected,' he said, adding that he hoped 'necessary resources will be invested in treatment and research, so that health systems are inclusive and attentive to the most fragile and the poorest.' After the Mass, the Vatican issued a statement saying that Francis had prayed and participated in the ritual of passing through the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica, like other pilgrims. On Friday, in its twice-weekly briefing on Francis' health, the Vatican said the pope was 'dedicating a lot of time to motor and respiratory therapy,' showing improvements in both. It added that the flows of supplemental oxygen he required were becoming less intense and that blood tests showed that the infections in his lungs were also improving. Advertisement People applauded and cheered as Francis moved through the crowd Sunday. Some pumped their fists in encouragement; others waved flags. 'Long live the pope,' they cheered. 'It was a grand gesture — he showed his suffering,' said Massimiliano Porena, a nurse from San Camillo hospital in Rome. He described the appearance as 'an act of love' toward health workers, 'something we try to transmit to the patients we care for.' This article originally appeared in
New York Times
06-04-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Recovering Pope Surprises Pilgrims With a Public Appearance
As entrances go, this one was both unexpected and welcome. That much was clear from the thunderous applause and cheers on Sunday as Pope Francis made his first public appearance since leaving a Rome hospital two weeks ago. Francis arrived, unannounced, on the dais in St. Peter's Square near the end of a Mass that was part of a pilgrimage by health care workers and their patients. The pope said very few words, his voice still strained after a six-week hospital stay for pneumonia and other problems that his doctors said twice brought him close to death. 'Happy Sunday to everyone, many thanks,' Francis said, waving his hands. A nasal cannula was visible in both nostrils; Francis continues to rely on supplemental oxygen, the Vatican has said. Sitting on a wheelchair pushed by his trusted nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, Francis moved through groups of pilgrims — including dozens of doctors and nurses from around the world — who had come the Vatican on Sunday for this weekend's Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers. 'What a wonderful surprise — the pope still has health problems but he wanted to give a gift to the faithful,' said Lamberto Rosa, a businessman who volunteers with the Order of Malta at some Vatican events. 'He has a fighting spirit and wants to be present.' Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Budapest Times
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Hankó: Hungarian family policy attends to the needs of the unborn and born alike
Balázs Hankó, the culture and innovation minister, said Hungarian family policy attends to the needs of the unborn and born alike. Speaking at an international conference organized by the Danube Institute in Budapest on Tuesday, Hankó said measures enacted by previous governments still cast a shadow over the efforts of the current one, notwithstanding the turning point in Hungarian family policy from 2010. 'Our aim is that those bringing up children should not have a worse standard of life than others without children,' he said at the conference entitled Family Formation – the geopolitical, cultural and legal aspects of demographic changes. Young people must be encouraged to have children, but equally important is for the state to support families and fulfil their needs, he said. Hankó said 'dangerous trends' in the Western world were tied with the promotion of an 'extreme and distorted freedom' that questioned 'traditional values such as marriage and family' while relativising gender roles and gender identity itself. He hailed the new US administration for 'taking powerful steps towards normality'. The EU, however, was still deaf to 'the voice of our times', he added. So values that were clear for centuries, such as 'marriage is the union of a man and a woman', must be legislated for, he said. Hankó also warned of a 'demographic winter' threatening Europe, noting that in 2023 the number of children born in the EU was 15 percent lower than ten years earlier. In Hungary the birth rate fell by only 2 percent during the same period, he added. Immigration may be a short-term fix for population loss, he said, but this was not a sustainable solution. In 2010 Hungary's fertility rate put the country at the bottom of the pile, while now it is in third place owing to the government's family-friendly policies, the minister said. The government is set to spend four times as much on supporting families in 2025 as in 2010, and spending would be further raised if the budget allows for this, he added. The event was addressed by Eduard Habsburg-Lorraine, Hungary's ambassador to the Holy See and the Order of Malta, who highly praised Hungary's family policy.
Ya Libnan
16-03-2025
- Business
- Ya Libnan
Order of Malta reaffirms commitment to Lebanon's stability and reconstruction
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (right) welcomes the Sovereign Order of Malta Grand Chancellor Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo and the delegation at Baabda's presidential palace on March 14, 2025. Credit: Sovereign Order of Malta Faithful to its ongoing commitment to supporting Lebanon, a high-level delegation from the Sovereign Order of Malta is currently touring the country. The official visit, led by the order's grand chancellor, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, spans three days and will conclude on Saturday. The delegation's agenda includes multiple stops aimed at exploring ways to help Lebanon overcome its ongoing crises and support its path toward recovery and reconstruction, relying on the country's new leadership. The delegation's first stop was the presidential palace in Baabda, where Montecupo met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. He was accompanied by the order's ambassador to Lebanon, Maria Cortese, Lebanon's Order of Malta President Marwan Sahnaoui, and advisers François Abi Saab, Eleonore Habsburg, and Martina D'Onofrio. During the meeting, Montecupo conveyed congratulations from the order's grand master, John Dunlap, who expressed his eagerness to welcome Aoun to the order's headquarters in Rome at the earliest opportunity. He reaffirmed the order's strong commitment to Lebanon, emphasizing its dedication to the country's stability and progress. He also mentioned that the order currently runs 60 pastoral, educational, and cultural projects across Lebanon and has signed several agreements to support its humanitarian mission. Additionally, Montecupo highlighted a conference on Lebanon that was held last February and announced plans for another gathering in Rome on April 10. Montecupo stressed that maintaining stability is paramount for Lebanon's economic recovery and affirmed the order's readiness to provide assistance, emphasizing its long-standing neutrality and independence. 'We will spare no effort to support the Lebanese people,' he said. For his part, Aoun acknowledged the challenges ahead but insisted that rebuilding Lebanon is possible with genuine political will. He underscored the importance of international support, both economically and politically. Aoun also referenced previous agreements between the order and Lebanese institutions, including the military, and highlighted the need for continued collaboration, particularly in the wake of destruction caused by the latest Israeli offensive. He commended the order for implementing projects nationwide, 'free from political, sectarian, or religious considerations.' The delegation also met with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at his Ain el-Tineh residence and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Grand Serail. Both meetings addressed Lebanon's political and economic landscape as well as the order's ongoing projects. The Sovereign Order of Malta has been active in Lebanon for over 70 years, focusing on health care, social integration, and agricultural development. This visit serves as a reaffirmation of the order's unwavering support for the Lebanese people during the ongoing reconstruction phase. In addition to official meetings, the delegation visited several development and humanitarian project sites, including the St. John the Baptist Center in Ain el-Remmaneh and mobile medical units in the western Bekaa region. The Order's membership includes about 13,500 Knights, Dames and Chaplains. Thirty-three of these are professed religious Knights of Justice. Until the 1990s, the highest classes of membership, including officers, required proof of noble lineage. More recently, a path was created for Knights and Dames of the lowest class (of whom proof of aristocratic lineage is not required) to be specially elevated to the highest class, making them eligible for office in the order.
National News
13-03-2025
- Business
- National News
Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Order of Malta visits Lebanon supporting recovery and reinforcing humanitarian commitment
NNA - The Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, commenced a three-day visit to Lebanon today, reaffirming the Order's longstanding commitment and support to the Lebanese people during the country's critical recovery phase. This high-level diplomatic mission underscores 70 years of continuous involvement by the Order of Malta in Lebanon, primarily in health, social welfare, and agriculture sectors, embodying Lebanon's exemplary spirit of coexistence and resilience. On the first day of his visit, the Grand Chancellor engaged in a series of key meetings. He met with Lebanon's President Joseph Khalil Aoun, with the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs Joe Rajji, then met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and National Assembly President Nabih Berri. Discussions emphasized strengthening the existing cooperation agreement between Lebanon and the Sovereign Order of Malta, aiming to diversify and expand collaborative humanitarian and healthcare initiatives. The Lebanese institutions expressed appreciation for the Order of Malta's work in support of the Lebanese people. The Grand Chancellor was accompanied during his visits by Ambassadors Giampaolo Cantini and Maria Emerica Cortese as well as Marwan Sehnaoui, President of the Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta (Order of Malta Lebanon), and François Abi Saab, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Lebanon. The Grand Chancellor warmly congratulated President Aoun on his election, and Prime Minister Salam on his recent appointment. He expressed the Order's best wishes for all possible success in the accomplishment of their high mandate, welcoming the new phase in domestic politics and ongoing stabilization efforts. "The international community and the major regional actors should fully support a process of stabilization and reconstruction,' the Grand Chancellor stated. 'The Sovereign Order of Malta will not spare its efforts to participate in such international support to Lebanon. Our historical ties to this region run deep – rooted in Jerusalem almost one thousand years ago – and our commitment to serve its people continues unwaveringly.' Throughout his visit, the Grand Chancellor will tour key humanitarian and development projects managed by the Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta, highlighting the Order's deep commitment and active collaboration with local and international partners in serving Lebanon's most vulnerable communities. ========
