Vatican Confirms Pope Has Parkinson's Disease

Yahoo News (AP) ^ | 16 May 2003 | Yahoo News (AP)

[AmericanInTokyo]

By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II has used prayer to cope with his advancing age and Parkinson's disease, a top Vatican official said in published remarks Saturday — the first time a senior official has publicly acknowledged the pontiff suffers from the degenerative disease.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, head of the Congregation of Bishops, made the comments in an interview with the Milan daily newspaper Corriere della Sera on the eve of the pope's 83rd birthday.

"If we want to look for the secret weapon that has allowed him to beat the years and Parkinson's, we must look to prayer: He puts himself in the hands of God and feels God and the Madonna (news - web sites) by his side in the path of life," he was quoted as saying.

Vatican has never officially attributed the source of the pope's trembling hands and slurred speech — typical symptoms of Parkinson's.

The cause of Parkinson's is unknown, but it results from the degeneration of nerve cells that produce a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which is needed to control muscle activity.

Symptoms of the disorder, which afflicts about 500,000 Americans, include tremors, stiffness and a shuffling gait.

Vatican officials have cited the pope's need for privacy as the reason they have not described his physical condition.

Several years ago, papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, who has a medical degree, said the pope may have an "extra pyramidal syndrome" — which could be one of many problems, including Parkinson's. Extra pyramidal refers to the part of the motor system that controls non-voluntary movement.

Doctors watching the pope from afar, however, have said the problem clearly was Parkinson's.

The pontiff also has crippling knee and hip ailments which have made it virtually impossible for him to walk.

Calls placed to the Vatican spokesman seeking comment on Re's remarks were not returned Saturday.

Despite his age and ailments, John Paul has appeared remarkably well in recent months — seeming stronger and speaking more clearly. The Vatican has attributed those improvements to more rest and physical therapy.

He still keeps up a vigorous work schedule and is due to make his 100th foreign trip — to Croatia — in June.

The Vatican also said there was a strong chance that John Paul in August would visit Mongolia, a predominantly Buddhist Asian nation with a Catholic community of fewer than 200 people.

But in an interview with the La Stampa daily newspaper Saturday, Navarro-Valls said the threat of the severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS (news - web sites), virus spreading through Asia might scuttle the visit.

"We haven't officially announced the visit. Mongolia might be included by the World Health Organization (news - web sites) among the countries at risk for SARS. We'll have to see," Navarro-Valls said.

The Vatican also was seeking agreement for a stopover in Russia en route to Mongolia — a visit long desired by John Paul as part of his efforts to promote greater Christian unity.

A Russia visit so far has been thwarted by opposition from Russia's Orthodox Church, which accuses the Roman Catholic Church of trying to gain converts in traditionally Orthodox lands in the former Soviet Union.

No pope has ever visited Russia.

[wardaddy]

I agree.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

< tinfoil > After the things he has been saying, they want to replace him. < /tinfoil >

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I would guess he has been hitting the bong pretty regularly.

[gcruse]

g seems to have a problem with the concept
of religious prosciptions against certain behaviors.

You mean like gambling?  ;)

[RedBloodedAmerican]

St. Bernard, the patron saint of drinking, has a bone to pick with you.

[Jeff Chandler]

1.) Bennett talks about virtues (from a Catholic perspective.)

2.) Bennett gambles.

3.) Some (other) religions consider gambling to be a vice.

4.) Bennett is a hypocrite.


Now there's logic for ya!

[redhead]

Hey! Anybody around here seen my bookmarked pages? They've disappeared from my profile page...

[RedBloodedAmerican]

On your profile page, click "Links" on the menu bar

[Mo1]

On your profile page .. go to where it says Links and click on that

[gcruse]

I hear that! Is there any connection
between the saint, the dog, and the dog's
mission in life?

[gcruse]

I have no problem with Bennett, as I put forth on my profile. I'm just trying to see what you mean in #20.

[Jeff Chandler]

>>I'm just trying to see what you mean in #20.<<

In contrast with you consistantly intellegent posts in other areas of FR, when you enter into religious discussions you seem to assume the role of disruptor. Your post concerning JPII is a case in point; it was just plain mean.

In a free country, a man may do pretty much as he pleases, within certain societal limits. He is free to accept or reject the teachings of a particular religion. Therefore, it makes no logical sense to take offense at the teachings of that religion (unless it involves flying airliners into skyscrapers.) All he has to do is ignore them.

It's been my experience that when a man has a reflexive antipathy towards religion, it is often a sign of that man's antipathy towards religion's judgement of the morality of behaviors in which he engages (or would like to.) The left's anger towards the moral judgement against clinton's Whitehouse antics is this reaction writ large.

This may or may not apply to you, but your interest in ridiculing other's faith leads to suspicion.

[SuziQ]

God Bless John Paul II. He has presided over the stormiest time in recent Church history, and has done so very well. I pray for him, and for those who vote on his successor, that they will be fully open to the Holy Spirit when making their choice!

[gcruse]

that man's antipathy towards religion's judgement of
the morality of behaviors in which he engages (or would like to.)

I engage in the mortal sin of disbelief.  As for the morality
of my behaviour, I'm afraid too many years have passed
for me to be much of a traducer there.  Now as for what I
would like to do, I didn't know the bible had thought crimes
but, now that you mention it, that seems likely.

Atheism isn't a cover for bad behavior, I don't think, as
much as it is the inevitable outcome of unfettered rationality.
It isn't something one chooses as much as where one arrives.
If I can jig someone into questioning the more blatant silliness
of religion, such as prayer curing Parkinson's, then I think
I am duty bound to try.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

http://www.freerepublic.com/~redhead/links?U=%2Ffocus%2Ff-news%2Fbrowse

[mitchbert]

I call this Moses Syndrome. President Reagan's Alzheimers is part of the same manifestation.

Those who free nations often seem to be blocked by fate from truly appreciating and enjoying their works and results. Perhaps they enjoy a higher enlightenment, who knows?

[FairOpinion]

Pray for him that God give him wisdom to know when it's time to stay and fight and when it's time to gracefully retire. Parkinson's also affects the mind, sad but true. It was the same problem with Janet Reno, although people carefully tried to stear clear mentioning the relationship between Parkinson's and the mind.

[jimkress]

and feels God and the Madonna (news - web sites)

Who was the moron that did not know which Madonna was being referenced?

Unbelieveable!

[NYer]

At his age its amazing the Pope has a full schedule that would tax a 15 year old's abilities. Then again at 83 you should be able to enjoy whatever years left God has given you.

An excellent observation! I have followed EWTN's live coverage of the pope over the years. I am constantly amazed that, despite Parkinson's Disease and his advanced age, the pope retains excellent vision. Unless he wears contact lenses (which I strongly doubt), I have NEVER seen him wearing glasses, despite being asked to read sermons, give blessings in 80+ languages, or read the Liturgy of the Mass. Simply amazing! How many 83 year olds can do that?

BTW, tomorrow is the pope's birthday, but he does not celebrate it. The pope celebrates his patron saint's day. In the case of Karol Wotijcza (sp?), that would be November 2, the feast of St. Charles. However, he will use the day to canonize 4 more saints. What a pope!

[AlbionGirl]

If I can jig someone into questioning the more blatant silliness of religion, such as prayer curing Parkinson's, then I think I am duty bound to try.

Is it really duty that's your motivation? After all, even if praying won't cure Parkinson's, if a person gets relief or comfort from the act of praying, why would you believe yourself to be 'duty bound' to disrupt?

And unless someone solicits your opinion about the bad science of praying for health, why would you be duty bound to 'inform'?

Also, you use the word jig to describe your preferred method of enlightenment, why is that? That seems so odd when juxtaposed to the mood of your post.

Atheists, like Theists do their best work when not trying to recruit.