VATICAN (CNS): Even on his worst days in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, Pope Francis was governing the Catholic Church, although on some days, he did not seem to have the energy to sign his full name, said Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, told Corriere della Sera.
Cardinal Parolin who coordinates much of the work of the Roman Curia, said it was true that, at the time, the pope simply initialed some documents “F.”
However the cardinal said that “now he is signing in full.”
He noted in the March 29 interview that it was not an ideal situation. “But I emphasise that the pope is in a position to still govern the Church, and we are happy that he was able to come home,” he said.
Pope Francis was in Rome’s Gemelli hospital from February 14 to March 23 for treatment of bronchitis, multiple infections and double pneumonia. His doctors said he had several breathing crises and was in danger of death.
The pope returned to his rooms in the Domus Sanctae Marthae with a recommendation from his doctors that he rest for two months, continue breathing exercises and physical therapy and continue taking medication for a persistent fungal infection.
The governance of the Church is in his hands, but there are many more routine matters on which his Curia collaborators can proceed even without consulting him, on the basis of previously received indications and existing regulations
Cardinal Parolin
“There is no change in the essentials” of how the Roman Curia works, Cardinal Parolin said. While the pope needs rest, documents are brought to him for “issues on which he and only he can and must decide.”
The cardinal stressed, “The governance of the Church is in his hands, but there are many more routine matters on which his Curia collaborators can proceed even without consulting him, on the basis of previously received indications and existing regulations.”
All the Vatican dicasteries work in the pope’s name, he said. “Obviously, the more important decisions must be made by the pontiff, but there are also others that can be taken within each dicastery following the guidelines the pope has given them.”
Pope Francis also can delegate certain tasks, Cardinal Parolin explained, and Catholics may see that during the pope’s convalescence.
For example, he said, “in the case of canonisations, it is the pope who pronounces the formula, but even this, if necessary, can be delegated to a collaborator, who pronounces it in the name of the pontiff.”
The issue is particularly relevant given the scheduled canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis on April 27 during the Jubilee of Teenagers. Blessed Acutis, an Italian computer whiz, died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15.
Pope Francis can delegate a cardinal to preside over the canonisation rite and read the formula to “declare and define” Blessed Acutis a saint and to order that he be venerated as such by the universal Church.
As of late March, the pope had not delegated anyone to take his place though, the cardinal said. “It will depend on how the Holy Father is feeling then.”
