Pope, ailing with head cold, presides at bishop's ordination
November 15, 2013
Suffering from a head cold, Pope Francis cancelled his audiences for Friday morning, November 15, but rallied to preside at the episcopal consecration of the new secretary of the Vatican City Governorate.
The Pope ordained Msgr. Fernando Vergez Alzaga, who had been appointed in September to the #2 post in the government of the Vatican city-state. After making that appointment, the Pope had later announced that because the secretary of the Governorate would be charged with overseeing “the human and Christian formation of employees and collaborators” at the Vatican, it was appropriate that he be a bishop.
The Pope’s morning schedule had involved meetings with other Vatican officials, and the Vatican press office said that the Pontiff had decided that they could be postponed without great inconvenience, giving him a few extra hours to rest and recover from the cold.
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Further information:
- Msgr. Vergez Alzaga To Be Consecrated This Afternoon: Morning Audiences Cancelled (VIS)
- Secretary-general of Vatican Governorate raised to rank of bishop (CWN, 10/15)
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