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Pope John Paul undergoes surgery
Pontiff asks for 'spiritual solidarity'
October 7, 1996
Web posted at: 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT)ROME (CNN) -- Pope John Paul II underwent a series of tests Monday at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy on Tuesday.
The pope's surgeon, Dr. Francesco Crucitti, said that after a restful night, the 76-year-old pontiff was in "excellent" spirits and "not at all" anxious about his impending operation.
In his last Vatican appearance before appendix surgery, John Paul on Sunday asked the world's Roman Catholics to pray for him while in the hospital during a Sunday ceremony to elevate 16 people to possible sainthood.
"I ask you to accompany me with your prayers," the pope told the huge crowd in St. Peter's Square. "I send warm greetings to those in the hospital or in nursing homes, knowing that I can count on their spiritual solidarity."
The pope entered the hospital Sunday, and he is to undergo surgery for the removal of an inflamed appendix Tuesday. The pontiff has had major abdominal surgery three times at the hospital since 1981.
Wearing emerald green vestments, the pope appeared tired at times during Sunday's two-and-a-half hour ceremony. He coughed on several occasions while reading his homily, and his left hand trembled noticeably -- an affliction that has fueled widespread speculation from the media and doctors who are not treating him that the pope suffers from Parkinson's disease or other neurological disorders.
The Vatican has denied all reports about a chronic condition.
Thousands crowded into the square, many waving flags from the pope's homeland of Poland. "He deserves this small sign of solidarity," said Stefano Pola.
Those beatified -- the penultimate step leading to sainthood in the church -- included 13 fellow Poles massacred by Russian soldiers for their loyalty to Rome in 1874, a Spanish and a Polish nun and Irishman Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers teaching orders that are located throughout the world.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Pope to enter hospital Sunday for appendix removal - October 4, 1996
- Pope ends trip to France - September 22, 1996
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