Pope's personal doctor dies from Covid-19 complications

Pope Francis chose Soccorsi as a personal doctor in 2015. He was 78 years old when he died

Reuters

10 January, 2021, 05:35 pm

Last modified: 10 January, 2021, 05:41 pm

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis leads the Mass on Christmas Eve in St. Peter's Basilica amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic at the Vatican December 24, 2020. Vincenzo Pinto/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Pope Francis' personal doctor, Fabrizio Soccorsi, has died as a result of "complications due to Covid," the Vatican's newspaper L'Osservatore Romano announced on Saturday.

Pope Francis chose Soccorsi as a personal doctor in 2015, the news outlet said. He was 78 years old when he died, reports the CNN.

Soccorsi was hospitalized in Rome on December 26 for a previous oncological disease, according to the Italian Bishop's Conference newspaper Avvenire. It's unclear exactly when he was last in direct contact with Pope Francis.

In an interview with Italy's Canale 5 channel set to air on Sunday night, Pope Francis said the Vatican will begin Covid-19 vaccinations next week and he is in line to take it.

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