(8 Oct 1996) T/I: 10:10:03
As the Pope underwent surgery on Tuesday morning (8/10), a meeting was
scheduled that included possible successors, should he be unable to continue with his role. The Vatican has insisted Pope John Paul II is in no serious danger with his health. But Marco Politi, who has co-authored a biography of the Pope with American writer Carl Bernstein, says it is possible that the story of the appendectomy is a smokescreen for a more serious problem.
SHOWS:
ROME, ITALY, 7/10 + RECENT
7/10
PAN from Ponte Sant' Angelo bridge to St. Peter's dome;
St. Peter's Dome;
ENGLISH SOT, Marco Politi, Pope biographer (with Carl Bernstein): "Very
few people believe in the story of the appendix, the official story of the surgery. People think this can't be the truth (overlaid pix of Pope). We know the Pope has Parkinson's disease but the Vatican has denied this."
ENGLISH SOT, Politi, continued: "Many people think it could be a tumor."
VS of book cover;
pan of newspaper headlines;
ENGLISH SOT, Politi, continued: "There are some pressures that could bring the Pope to resign if he is not in good shape but the Pope is convinced he will not resign. It is his duty to do this to the end of his life (overlaid hands). Many people speak of the Brazilian cardinal Neves Moreira, president of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference who also has a drop of African blood so he would be ideal - third world from Latin America with this African blood which is a sign of the internationality of the church but with a knowledge of the operation of the church."
RECENT
Cutaway of Brazilian cardinal Neves Moreira;
7/10
ENGLISH SOT, Politi, continued: "If the Italian option is supported then
there is this time many candidates, the secretary of state (RECENT picture of secretary of state), the president of the Italian Bishops' Conference (picture of Ruini), or Saldarini, the Archbishop of Turin or the Archbishop of Florence, Giovanelli. Inside the Curia (who elect the Pope) there are others - Cardinal Pio Laghi, (RECENT picture of Laghi) who has been papal ambassador to the US for many years, and the other is cardinal Silvestrini who has been foreign minister for the pope in the 1980's. I think the Pope wil be chosen on the basis of greater openness towards the problems of democracy within the church."
Runs 2.54
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
