Cardinal Parolin Admitted to Hospital for Surgery

Cardinal Parolin has served as Vatican Secretary of State since 2013, and he has been on the Council of Cardinals since 2014.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin. (photo: Vatican Media)

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican Secretary of State was admitted to a Roman hospital Tuesday for a scheduled surgery to treat prostate enlargement.

“It is expected that in a few days he will be able to leave the hospital and gradually resume his work,” the Holy See Press Office said Dec. 8.

Pietro Cardinal Parolin is being treated at Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic.

The cardinal, who is 65, was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Vicenza in 1980.

He was consecrated a bishop in 2009, when he was appointed apostolic nuncio to Venezeula.

Cardinal Parolin has served as Vatican Secretary of State since 2013, and he has been on the Council of Cardinals since 2014.

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis