c. 2005 Religion News Service
Recovering Pope to Remain Hospitalized a Few More Days
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope John Paul II is making good progress in his recovery from acute breathing problems, but for “precautionary reasons” he will remain hospitalized for a few more days, the Vatican said Monday (Feb. 7).
Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, who has a medical degree, said in his first bulletin on the pope’s condition since Friday that John Paul II no longer has a fever, is eating normally and is able to move from his hospital bed to an armchair. He concelebrates Mass for his aides and his medical team each day.
But, the spokesman said, “For evident precautionary reasons, the pope has been advised to prolong his stay in the Gemelli Polyclinic for a few more days.” He said he would issue his next medical bulletin at midday on Thursday.
“I can also say that the Holy Father takes a look at the newspapers, `to follow,’ he says, `the progress of my illness,”’ Navarro-Valls said.
The 84-year-old Roman Catholic pontiff, who came down with influenza on Jan. 30, was rushed to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic hospital by ambulance the night of Feb. 1, suffering from inflammation of the windpipe with spasms of the larynx, which made it difficult for him to breath.
His condition was complicated by his age and by Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative neurological disease which has affected his speech and movements, but doctors said his strong heart and will to live were major assets.
On Sunday, the pope made his first public appearance since the respiratory attack. Television showed him sitting at a window of his 10th floor hospital suite for about 10 minutes during the midday Angelus prayer and then giving a brief final blessing and a wave.
Loudspeakers carried the pope’s words to a crowd outside the hospital, and thousands more gathered around giant television screens erected in St. Peter’s Square.
Although his appearance was not greatly changed, John Paul’s voice was weak as he pronounced the Latin blessing. When he said, “Grazie,” thank you in Italian, it was nearly unintelligible.
_ Peggy Polk
Pope to See Israeli and Palestinian Ministers in Historic Meeting
(RNS) Health-permitting, Pope John Paul II will grant a joint audience to the Israeli and Palestinian ministers of tourism on February 25.
“For the first time in history, the ministers of Israel and Palestine will be received together by his Holiness John Paul II,” said Monsignor Pietro Sambi, the Vatican’s ambassador, during an upbeat Sunday (Feb. 6) press conference with the ministers, aimed at promoting Holy Land pilgrimages.
The anticipated audience comes in response to a Jan. 19 letter Avraham Hirchson, the Israeli minister, and Mitri Abu Aita, his Palestinian counterpart, sent to the pope outlining the recent improvement in relations between the Israeli and Palestinian governments.
The Sunday press briefing, which followed a meeting between the two ministers earlier that day, took place against the backdrop of the scheduled Tuesday (Feb. 8) summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas _ the first such high-level meeting in more than four years.
“With the new prospects for positive political developments in our region … we believe that the time is ripe to further encourage pilgrimage to the Holy Land,” the letter said.
The ministers said they would like to “appear together and relay our message before the Holy See, an audience that might have a tremendous effect on the pursuance of the present momentum.”
Sambi said the pope had agreed to host the meeting “despite his condition” in order to “promote peace in the Holy Land and to encourage pilgrims to come back.”
Since the Palestinian uprising began in September 2000, the number of Christian and other pilgrims to the area has plummeted due to ongoing violence between Palestinians and Israelis. Although that number has risen steadily in the past year, thanks to a sharp decrease in terror attacks and Israeli retaliatory measures, it is still far below optimum, Sambi said.
_ Michele Chabin
With photo of Michael W. Smith
Eds: MercyMe in 7th graph is cq. BarlowGirl in 11th graph is cq.
Veteran Christian Artist Michael W. Smith Tops Dove Award Nominees
(RNS) Longtime Christian artist Michael W. Smith topped the field of nominations for the Dove Awards, which will be awarded by the Gospel Music Association in April.
Smith received eight of the nominations announced Monday (Feb. 7). He was followed by the group Casting Crowns with seven, and lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall with six individual nominations. The Crabb Family also gained six nominations and its patriarch, Gerald Crabb, earned six nominations for his songwriting abilities.
John W. Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association, said the nominations include such varied genres within Christian music as pop, urban, rock, worship and Southern gospel.
“This year’s slate of Dove nominees once again demonstrates that gospel knows no musical boundaries,” he said in a statement. “The nominees share a common faith, while their music is expressed in many diverse ways.”
The GMA Music Awards ceremony will be held April 13 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, at the conclusion of the GMA Week Convention.
Nominations include:
Artist of the Year: Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Selah, Michael W. Smith, Switchfoot.
Female Vocalist of the Year: Bethany Dillon, Natalie Grant, Nicole C. Mullen, Christy Nockels, Joy Williams.
Group of the Year: Casting Crowns, The Crabb Family, MercyMe, Selah, Switchfoot.
Male Vocalist of the Year: Jeremy Camp, Jason Crabb, Mark Hall, Israel Houghton, Fernando Ortega.
New Artist of the Year: BarlowGirl, Building 429, Day of Fire, Bethany Dillon, Matthew West.
Song of the Year: “Blessed Be Your Name,” “Dare You to Move,” “Friend of God,” “Glory Defined,” “Healing Rain,” “Meant to Live,” “More,” “Through the Fire,” “Who Am I,” “You Raise Me Up.”
_ Adelle M. Banks
After Muslims Protest, Museum in Sweden Drops Erotic Display
(RNS) The Swedish Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg, Sweden, has dropped an erotic painting from an AIDS exhibition after hundreds of Muslims protested its inclusion with excerpts from the Quran.
Protesters sent over 800 letters to express discontent over the display of “Scene L’Amour,” which depicted a sexual scene headlined with excerpts, in Arabic, from the Quran, the Muslim holy book.
The work, by French Algerian artist Louzla Darabis, was part of about 500 displayed under the title: “No Name Fever _ AIDS In the Age of Globalization.”
Museum director Jette Sandahl said “people who came to us saying that the painting offended their sensibilities.”
She went on to say, “What is important is to have a dialogue with our audience before and during the exhibition” and that “we try to listen to what people say.”
Sandahl said the incident should in no way be taken as a slap at the integrity of the artist. Dabaris’ other works are still part of the show.
“No Name Fever” aimed to put AIDS into a global perspective and to prompt people to reflect on the crisis. Sandahl said it was not intended to prompt “a discussion about artistic and religious freedom”
_ Simon Reeves
Quote of the Day: The Rev. Rich Weaver of Sacramento, Calif.
(RNS) “I feel with all my heart that God had given me a mandate to give a message to President Bush, which I did. I didn’t feel I was guilty before God, but … I admitted guilt under man’s laws.”
_ The Rev. Rich Weaver of Sacramento, Calif., commenting to The Washington Post after being sentenced Feb. 3 to unsupervised probation in District of Columbia Superior Court for a misdemeanor charge of unlawful entry because he passed a message to President Bush when he didn’t have a ticket to the National Prayer Breakfast two years ago.
MO/RB RNS END
