Pope Francis surprised everyone in July: On Sunday, July 4, the Vatican reported that the Pope had undergone colon surgery.
During the Angelus, before going to the hospital, he made another important announcement.
POPE FRANCIS
'I am happy to announce that from the 12th to 15th of September, God willing, I will travel to Slovakia to make a pastoral visit. The Slovaks here are happy!'
In March, Pope Francis had already hinted at his intention to visit Slovakia after the closing Mass at the International Eucharistic Congress in Hungary.
POPE FRANCIS
'I will go to Hungary for the final Mass of the Eucharistic Congress. Not a visit to the country, but I will go to the Mass. But Budapest is a two-hour drive from Bratislava. Why not pay a visit to the Slovaks too?'
The Pope spent the first days of July recovering from surgery at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. As soon as he was able, he paid a visit to the children in the hospital.
Some of them accompanied the Pope at the Angelus, which he prayed from the hospital.
POPE FRANCIS
'I thank all of you. I have felt your closeness and the support of your prayers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! And let us pray for all the sick. I have some young friends here who are sick. Why do children suffer? Why do children suffer is a question that reaches the heart. Accompany them with prayer. And pray for all the sick.'
Pope Francis spent 11 days at the hospital. He was discharged on July 14. His first stop before returning to the Vatican was the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he prayed before the patroness of Rome, the Salus Populi Romani.
The Pope then stopped to greet the police and military officers at one of the entrances to the Vatican.
He seemed to be in a very good mood, but he appeared weak. In fact, he didn't celebrate the Mass for Grandparents and the Elderly that he had scheduled for Sunday, July 25. He limited himself to leading the Angelus that day.
POPE FRANCIS
'Applause for all of the grandparents, everyone!'
The month of July ended with another step toward transparency. The Vatican for the first time published detailed information about its properties and finances.
The documents show that the Vatican has about 1,200 properties in France, the United Kingdom and Switzerland; and an additional 4,000 in Italy. Only 15 percent of the Italian properties are for rent at market value. The rest are rented out at a favorable price, and 40 percent of these are hospitals, schools and convents.
The report also showed a financial loss of about $77.4 million in 2020, in part because the pandemic forced the Vatican Museums to close.
Pope Francis also limited the use of the Tridentine Mass. Now the bishop must give permission to use this rite, and it cannot be celebrated in parishes.
To close the month of July was a trial at the Vatican. July 27 was the first hearing for Secretariat of State employees and Vatican advisers for possible crimes of corruption. Among the accused was Card. Angelo Becciu, who was the third highest ranked person at the Vatican from 2011 to 2018.
Javier Romero
TR: CT
VM
