FÁTIMA – After Pope Francis set aside a prepared speech in Lisbon on Friday morning, citing problems with his eyesight amid poor lighting, concern over the pontiff’s vision has grown after he skipped two other speeches, including a highly-anticipated message on Saturday morning in Fátima.
During a visit to a charitable centre in Lisbon, the Pope delivered the first couple of paragraphs of his prepared speech but then set it aside, telling the small gathering that the lighting made it difficult for him to read, and promising that the text would be made public.
On Saturday morning, however, a Vatican spokesman said that there was no cause for alarm. “The Pope always addresses the people he meets firstly as a shepherd, and speaks accordingly,” said spokesman Matteo Bruni. “The problem with his sight yesterday morning was due to the lighting, which produced a reflection on his glasses,” Bruni said, adding there was no problem with the pontiff’s eyesight.
Anticipation was high ahead of the Pope’s visit to the Marian shrine in Fátima Saturday morning, with many observers expecting him to deliver a message of peace amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, after praying the rosary with sick young people and prisoners, Pope Francis again delivered the first few lines of his prepared speech but then deviated, instead offering attendees a brief, off-the-cuff reflection on the Blessed Virgin Mary. He also skipped his prepared prayer at the end of the rosary, asking attendees to join him in the <em>Ave Maria</em>.
Concern over the Pope’s health has increased in recent months following two hospital stays this year; one for a serious bout of bronchitis and the other for a surgery to repair an abdominal hernia. The 86-year-old pontiff also suffers from chronic sciatica and knee pain which for over a year has often confined him to a wheelchair. Last year he had surgery to repair cataracts, but it is unclear if that is what is creating difficulty for the pope in delivering his prepared speeches in Portugal.
Despite the questions about his vision, the Pope otherwise has seemed resilient so far during a fairly grueling itinerary in Portugal, clearly alert and his voice strong during his public addresses. In his unprepared remarks in Fátima, he reflected on the Virgin going “in haste” to visit her cousin Elizabeth after finding out they were both pregnant, calling her “Our Lady of Haste” and saying that she also hurries to be close to each person.
“She accompanies the life of Jesus, and she does not hide after the resurrection,” he said, saying that Our Lady accompanies the Church as it grows and always “points to Jesus.”
“Mary in her life does nothing but point to Jesus, do what he tells you, follow Jesus. She welcomes us and points to Jesus, and she does it in a hurry,” he said.
Pope Francis asked those present to look at the famous statue of Our Lady of Fátima in the shrine’s outdoor chapel, where the rosary was prayed, and to reflect silently in their hearts on what she is telling them, offering her their worries, concerns, motivations and interests.
“We feel the presence of the mother; that she points to Jesus, and that she asks him to do what we ask. Our Lady of Haste,” he said, closing his remarks.
Pope Francis is expected to deliver a prepared speech to young people during a prayer vigil on Saturday evening.
