Madrid, Spain, Oct 10, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The Church in Spain is asking for prayers for the health of the Archbishop of Madrid and President of the Bishops Conference of Spain, Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, who is currently hospitalized after undergoing surgery to have a kidney removed.
Doctors say the Cardinal’s progress has been completely satisfactory, although he continues to rest at the hospital, accompanied by his secretary, Salvador Domato. His work schedule has been suspended until further notice.
Spanish media speculated the Cardinal was suffering from cancer, but Maria Dolores Gamazo, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Madrid, denied the rumor.
This was the first major operation which 68-year old Cardinal Rouco has undergone, said the Archdiocese. The Cardinal is one of the most outspoken critics of the Socialist government’s new laws and proposals in favor of abortion, homosexual unions and embryonic stem cell research.