THE POPE’S HEALTH

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 348, 1 February 1937, Page 3

THE POPE’S HEALTH

Radio Call To Vatican From Australia. Sydney, January 21. The first radio-telephone call to the Vatican City in Rome by an apostolic delegate in Australia was made early this week, to obtain official statements about the Pope’s health. The delegate, Archbishop Panico, spoke to Monsignor Ottaviani, assessor of the Holy Office within the Vatican. Reception was perfect. The Pope’s health, said Monsignor Ottaviani, was improving. On Friday his Holiness received several persons in audiences in his salon, not, as before, in his sleeping chamber. At the Sydney Apostolic delegation, Archbishop Panico, in his official garb, spoke in Italian throughout the talk. Later he congratulated Sydney telephone officials on the excellence of the reception. The Archbishop had prepared his questions thoroughly. “This is of grave import to all Catholics in Australia,” he said. When the call began reception was so good that listeners in the office of the delegate could hear Monsignor OttavianFs voice answering Archbishop Panico’s questions. The Vatican official expressed his pleasure at hearing Australia. “I have to thank Australia for its kindness in arranging the call,” he told Archbishop Panico. “The news you get from me about the Pope’s health will be direct. The Holy Father is suffering fjom arteriosclerosis, which has had a weakening effect upon the heart. But now his condition is definitely much better. There is no truth at all in the report that he has had an operation or is likely to have one. To-day he has begun to receive persons in audience in the salon instead of in his sleeping chamber. He received three or four persons to-day. When I saw him he was marvellous mentally, and his morale was splendid. He is in excellent spirits and in no way depressed. Naturally, on account of his illness he must take care of his health. He cannot do as much work as previously. But we hope here,

and feel that he will be restored to health. We all thank Australia for the telephone inquiry.” Archbishop Panico, enjoying the talk, asked several personal questions before tbe circuit was disconnected, mentioning many of his friends of the hierarchy. “It was a wonderful conversation,” he said afterwards.