Parolin: "If he is better, Angelus from the Gemelli". Doctors will decide on the Latin America journey

His words. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, spoke about the possibility of Leo XIV leading the Angelus prayer on Sunday: "It will depend somewhat on how his convalescence goes. If he is better by the end of the week, I think he will lead the Angelus from the Gemelli".

His concern. On the Pope's condition the Secretary of State added: "I remain worried because I am truly, deeply sorry about what has happened. But I trust the news given to us in the bulletins, and I hope this situation can be resolved as soon as possible."

The pontificate. According to ANSA, the Secretary of State said: "If necessary, he will reshape the pontificate: he has been in hospital for barely two days, no predictions can be made, it is now a matter of seeing when he returns and what the doctors say. On the basis of all these elements the Pope will reshape his pontificate, if it is necessary to reshape it".

The journey to Latin America. On the Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, scheduled for 6 to 17 November, Cardinal Parolin explained, again according to ANSA: "the initial decision when the Pope was admitted to hospital was that the journey would be maintained in its planned form. It will depend on how things go. The Pope has not yet expressed himself on this matter and we must wait, first of all for him to return from hospital and then for what the doctors say, as to whether he will be able to undertake a journey as long and demanding as the one ahead in Latin America. I imagine that if all goes well, if the situation develops as was foreseen at the beginning, the journey will take place. If there are new developments, we cannot foresee that".

The context. The Pope is in the Gemelli hospital after lung surgery. Today's medical bulletin from the Holy See Press Office, signed by Dr Luigi Carbone and Prof. Stefano Margaritora, reports routine checks within normal limits, "good recovery of the operated lung" and a post-operative course "proceeding regularly". During the day the Pope concelebrated Mass on the Gemelli's tenth floor and received the Substitute for General Affairs, Archbishop Paolo Rudelli.

What it means. The Secretary of State's words tie the decision on the Angelus, as well as that on the November journey, to the course of the convalescence and the doctors' opinion, and are not an official announcement. Any confirmation will come from the Holy See Press Office.

What we don't know. It has not been announced whether an Angelus from the Gemelli would be delivered from a hospital window, nor how it would take place.