Pope Leo XIV brings American-style governance to the Vatican, even in a health crisis
VATICAN CITY — There’s a telling anecdote from St. John Paul II's pontificate that illustrates how Pope Leo XIV and his American style of governing have changed the Vatican and the way it handles papal health crises. The Polish pope, 84 at the time, was back at Gemelli hospital battling an acute respiratory infection, breathing problems and the worsening effects on his larynx of Parkinson’s…
Vatican City — In the 19th century, Pope Leo XIV revolutionized the way the Vatican handled the health of its pontiffs, bringing an American-style governance approach to the Holy See. One striking example of this change came during the final days of St. John Paul II's life. The aging pontiff, 84 years old, was hospitalized at Gemelli hospital, battling a severe respiratory infection, breathing difficulties and the debilitating effects of Parkinson's disease on his larynx and breathing.
Doctors performed a tracheotomy under anesthesia to help John Paul II breathe, a procedure that had become necessary due to his worsening condition.
Despite his critical state, the next morning, John Paul II's spokesman provided a seemingly improbable update to reporters, claiming that the pope had enjoyed his regular breakfast of coffee with milk, ten biscuits, and a yogurt. Church historian Alberto Melloni recalled that this story was not uncommon at the time, as the tradition of the Vatican was to embellish or outright fabricate details about the pontiff's health to maintain a positive image.
However, this was a stark contrast to the governance style of Pope Leo XIV, who had set a new precedent for transparency and honesty in reporting on the health of the pope.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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