Disclaimer: This site has been first put up 15 years ago. Since then I would probably do a couple things differently, but because I've noticed this site had been linked from news outlets, PhD theses and peer rewieved papers and because I really hate the concept of "digital dark age" I've decided to put it back up. There's no chance it can produce any harm now.
| Identifier: | 01VATICAN6026 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 01VATICAN6026 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Vatican |
| Created: | 2001-11-23 11:47:00 |
| Classification: | UNCLASSIFIED |
| Tags: | PINR VT |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 231147Z Nov 01
UNCLAS VATICAN 006026
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI), EUR/PD/PA (HILTON)
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NUMBER 204/01
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINR, VT
SUBJECT: AGE PREVENTS POPE TRAVELING TO OCEANIA
1. POPE JOHN PAUL II'S INCREASING INFIRMITY HAS PREVENTED
HIM TRAVELING TO OCEANIA TO PROMULGATE A NEW CHURCH DOCUMENT
FOR THE REGION. THE VATICAN CITED DISTANCE AND THE EFFECT OF
THE FLIGHT ON THE POPE'S HEALTH AS THE REASONS FOR ISSUING THE
DOCUMENT IN ROME, NOVEMBER 22, VIA INTERNET (A FIRST FOR THE
VATICAN). IN THE RECENT PAST, THE POPE HAS CONDUCTED THE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 VATICA 06026 231203Z
PRESENTATION CEREMONIES IN THE REGIONS THAT WERE THE SUBJECT
OF PREVIOUS DOCUMENTS: THE AMERICAS, AFRICA, EUROPE AND ASIA.
2. POPE JOHN PAUL II IS 81. HE IS BECOMING FRAILER WITH EACH
PASSING YEAR. IT IS NO SECRET THAT THE POPE SUFFERS FROM A
NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE, PROBABLY PARKINSON'S. THE VATICAN HAS
INSTITUTED VARIOUS PROCEDURES AND TOOLS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER
FOR THE PONTIFF - A SPECIAL LECTERN ON HIS CHAIR FOR THE PAGES
OF HIS SPEECHES BECAUSE TREMORS PRECLUDE HIM HOLDING THE TEXT;
A WHEELED PLATFORM TO MOVE HIM UP THE AISLE OF SAINT PETER'S
BASILICA. (THE AISLE IS 211 METERS LONG). POPE JOHN PAUL NOW
WEARS A HEARING AID, ALTHOUGH HE DOES NOT REQUIRE SPECTACLES
TO READ, AND OFTEN USES A CANE WHEN WALKING.
3. COMMENT: THE VATICAN IS ADAPTING ITSELF TO THE NEEDS OF
THE AGING AND INCREASINGLY FRAIL POPE. THE PONTIFF INSISTS ON
PERFORMING AS MANY OF HIS DUTIES AS POSSIBLE. ALTHOUGH HIS
SCHEDULE HAS BEEN REDUCED TO THE ESSENTIAL, IT WOULD BE
DEMANDING FOR ANY OCTOGENARIAN. WHILE THE POPE'S BODY MAY BE
SLOWING DOWN, ALL THOSE WHO MEET WITH THE POPE SAY HIS MIND
REMAINS ACTIVE AND ALERT. THE VATICAN WILL CONTINUE TO
ACCOMMODATE THE AGING PONTIFF SO THAT THE DIGNITY AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THE PUBLIC NATURE OF THE OFFICE IS MAINTAINED FOR
AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. END COMMENT. NICHOLSON
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2001VATICA06026 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Latest source of this page is cablebrowser-2, released 2011-10-04