Pope Francis attends the funeral of Fabrizio Soccorsi, his personal physician who died on January 9th. The funeral mass was celebrated by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
By the Vatican News staff writer
Pope Francis on Tuesday attended the funeral of his personal physician, Fabrizio Soccorsi, who died of Covid-related causes on January 9th.
A statement issued by the Holy See’s Press Office stated that during the afternoon, the Holy Father went to the church of Santa Maria Regina della Famiglia of the Vatican Governorate to attend the funeral of Professor Soccorsi. Funeral Mass was celebrated by His Cardinal Eminence Parolin.
Dr. Fabrizio Soccorsi, 78, died of complications caused by Covid-19.
He had been admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome on December 26 due to cancer, but died of “lung complications” caused by the new coronavirus.
Soccorsi had been the Pope’s personal physician since 2015. He had also been an adviser to the Vatican’s health services department and a medical consultant to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
During his years of medical service, he had been chief physician of the hepatology room of St. Camillo-Forlanini Hospital in Rome and director of its department of liver disease, digestive system, and nutrition; he also taught immunology in municipal and regional medical schools.