Pope Francis’ personal doctor, Fabrizio Soccorsi, has died from health complications related to coronavirus, the Vatican has announced
According to Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, the 78-year-old doctor, who was being treated for an “oncological pathology,” died at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital,
Pope Francis named Soccorsi his personal doctor in August 2015, after not renewing the term of papal doctor Patrizio Polisca, who was also head of the Vatican’s healthcare services.
Since the pontificate of St. Pope John Paul II, the two positions had been tied together, but Pope Francis diverged from this custom by choosing Soccorsi, a doctor from outside the Vatican.
As Francis’ personal physician, Soccorsi travelled with the pope on his global trips.
During his visit to Fatima, Portugal in May 2017, Pope Francis laid two bunches of white roses before the statue of the Virgin Mary for Soccorsi’s daughter, who was critically ill, and died the following month.
Soccorsi trained in medicine and surgery at Rome’s La Sapienza University. His career included both medical practice and teaching, especially in the areas of hepatology, the digestive system, and immunology.
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