Rome, Italy, Aug 4, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Pope Benedict XVI traveled by helicopter from his summer residence in Castelgandolfo Friday to visit his brother Georg, who is hospitalized at the Gemelli Clinic in Rome.
“My brother is well, thank you,” the Pontiff said after visiting with 81-year old Father Georg, who underwent an emergency operation on Thursday to receive a pacemaker.
The Pontiff was received by hospital director, Dr. Cesare Catananti, and he affectionately greeted a number of other patients interned at Rome’s most important hospital.
Benedict XVI stopped to pray at the hospital’s small chapel before heading up to the tenth floor, where his brother Georg is recovering. After spending thirty minutes with him, the Pope returned to Castelgandolfo.