March 18, 2005
www.guilfordian.com
Pope returns to Vatican after surgery, hospital stay
Taleisha Bowen
Staff Writer
After 18 days spent at Rome's
Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital as
a result of throat surgery, Pope John
Paul II returned to the Vatican on
March 13 with thousands cheering
him on. Though his health continues
to deteriorate, the Vatican has dis
closed that the worst is over in this
most recent health crisis.
The 84-year-old pope was hospital
ized on Feb. 24 for a tracheotomy,
having a breathing tube inserted or
replaced. Australia's Herald Sun
reports that this tube may remain in
his throat for the rest of the pope's
life.
The operation was meant to facili
tate recent breathing problems. The
pope is also recovering from the flu.
Medical experts say the pope is
suffering from the advanced stages
of Parkinson's disease - a progres
sive disease causing deterioration of
the brain and shaking of the
appendages. Sources report that it
has been difficult for him to speak
clearly for years. In addition, he suf
fers from arthritis as well as hip and
knee problems and is confined to a
wheelchair.
The Associated Press (AP) reports
that the Vatican's statement
announcing the pope's release made
clear that while the pope's breathing
problems have not been cured,
recovery will continue via breathing
and speech rehabilitation therapy at
'> *ft IvHS-*! 5 * -** * v
i Mmm
■ wL * !Hk4 t Kffß
WORLD & NATION
St. Peter's Cathedral.
"The Holy Father, in agreement
with the attending physicians, will
return to the Vatican this evening,
where he will continue his convales
cence," the Vatican disclosed March
13, according to The New York
Times.
Though the pope made three pre
vious public appearances from his
tenth-floor window, his departure
from the hospital marked his first
public statement since the hospital-
ization began. According to the
AP, the pope read that state
ment from a sheet of paper.
"Dear brothers and sisters,
thank you for your visit," he
said. "To everyone, have a
good Sunday and a good
week."
Doctors have advised that the
pope speak only sparingly, "to
promote a better recuperation
of the function of the larynx,"
said the pope's chief
spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-
Valls, The New York Times
reports.
As a result, Pope John Paul II
has delegated senior cardinals
to preside at nearly all Holy
Week services. This is the first
time he has done so during his
26-year papacy. Holy Week,
beginning Palm Sunday, March
20, and ending on Easter
Sunday, March 27, is one of the
busiest periods of the Roman
Catholic Church's calendar.
Students: When you return from spring break, materials regarding registration will be in your campus mail
box. CCE registration begins Wednesday, March 30. Traditional Seniors begin registration on Wednesday,
March 30. Traditional Juniors begin registration on Monday, April 4. Traditional Sophomores begin registration
on Tuesday, April 5. First-Year students register on Wednesday, April 6. Check Banner Web to see if you have
any holds. All holds must be cleared by noon the day before you are scheduled to register. After Wednesday,
April 6, all registrations must be done in the Registrar's Office. After break, students should make an appoint
ment with your advisor, to obtain your alternate pin number. The alternate pin number changes every semes
ter and is not your pin number for logging into Banner Web. The alternate pin number is used only to register
for classes.
Faculty: Remember to check the online course schedule. Let the Registrar know immediately of any
changes.
Advisors: When meeting with your advisees, don't forget to give them their alternate pin number The
alternate pin number changes every semester. You can access alternate pin numbers on your Banner Web.
Reminder: For 2005 Spring semester, the last day to drop regular courses with a W grade is Monday, March
21.
WWW.CAMPBELLCOUNTY.COM
FALL 2005 Registration is Approaching
News.com.au reports that while
John Paul H's advisers have yet to
decide in what way the pope would
be able to take part in ceremonies
Easter Holy Week, he is expected to
deliver his Urbi et Orbi (to Rome and
the World) blessing in person on
Easter Sunday.
While Peter Stanford of the London
Sunday Times describes Rome as
being on "death watch," Foreign
Policy magazine suggests that a suc
cessor to John Paul - born Karol
Pope John Paul II in prayer
Greensboro. N.C.
Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland- "must
embrace science, reject globaliza
tion, reach out to the Islamic world -
and brush up on economics."
Foreign Policy strives to explain
how the world works, (especially)
how the process of global integration
is reshaping nations, institutions,
(and) cultures," according to their
website, foreignpolicy.com..
USA Today reports that the
process of selection of a new pope
can be complicated. Cardinal elec
tors sequester themselves three
weeks after the death or resignation
of a pope. For up to 16 days, the
cardinals use a secret ballot system
to try to select a new pope. A candi
date needs a two-thirds majority vote
to be selected during this time.
If a candidate does not receive
majority in this method, the two can
didates with the most votes go
through one last ballot, requiring only
an absolute majority of half-plus-one
votes to be elected. Two hours after
the final vote, the new pope makes
his first public appearance on the
balcony of the Basilica in the white
vestments of the papacy.
There has been no final word on
the Pope's health, though The
Washington Post reports that on Oct.
16, 2003, the Pope said that God,
"while knowing my human frailty,
encourages me to respond with faith
and invites me to assume the
responsibilities that He Himself has
entrusted to me."B€
Page 5