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