POPE John Paul II is reported to be making an excellent recovery from his operation at the Policlinico Gemelli hospital in Rome for the removal of his appendix. A medical bulletin issued by the hospital confirmed that the 76 year old Pope's post operative recovery had been good, that he had slept some hours on Tuesday night, that he was in no pain and that he was able to take liquid sustenance.
The bulletin also reported that the Pope felt well enough yesterday morning, not only to chat at length with his doctors but also to get out of bed and walk about the corridors of his high security, 10th floor hospital suite. Barring unforeseen problems, the Pope is now expected to be back in the Vatican by next Tuesday, if not earlier.
In a significant coda, yesterday's bulletin also added, the following: "The definitive histological analysis confirmed the inter cooperative analysis made public in the bulletin of October 8th."
In layman's language, the medical team was repeating the affirmations of Prof Franceseo Crucitti, the surgeon who performed the Pope's appendectomy, who on Tuesday had categorically, denied that the Pope was suffering from any form of intestinal tumour. Prof Crucitti had offered that opinion in response to widespread media speculation that this week's operation was prompted by an ailment more serious than a straightforward case of appendicitis.
Even if the apparently successful outcome to the operation will have come as welcome news all over the world the Pope's good recovery will not stop further media speculation about the possibility that he may be suffering from Parkinson's Disease.
Independent medical experts suggest that the Pope's stooped gait, his deadpan and occasionally slurred speech and a tremble in his left hand may all be manifestations of Parkinson's Disease.
The Vatican has never denied such speculation.
Despite the fact that the Papal health watch seems, destined to continue, the Pope's compatriot and confidant, Cardinal Jozef Glemp of Poland, yesterday struck an optimistic note when he said: "I believe that the Pope will lead us to the great jubilee of the year 2000. His thoughts and pastoral preparations are all aimed at this date and he intends to see them all the way through.