Pope Francis sent affectionate lines through the Bishop of Mar del Plata, Argentina, Monsignor Gabriel Mestre, in which he assures his prayers for the health of Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who has been hospitalized in that city, reported in a note the Diocese of Mar del Plata.
The Holy Father wrote these words to Perez Esquivel:
“Dear Brother, Monsignor Mestre alerted me about your health problem. With these lines, I assure you of my closeness and prayer for your speedy recovery. Greetings to your wife. May Jesus bless you and the Holy Virgin take care of you,” wrote the Pontiff by hand from Casa Santa Marta on January 2, 2022.
The Bishop’s Visit
According to the same source, on Saturday night, January 1, Bishop Gabriel Mestre visited Perez Esquivel at the Hospital. He talked and prayed with the patient, who received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. “Our diocesan Bishop invites us to pray for the speedy recovery of this Argentine, committed to peace, the common good, and human rights,” adds the source.
Adolfo Perez Esquivel, 90, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1980, in virtue of his commitment to the poor and oppressed in Latin America. According to the Argentine newspaper La Nacion, his case is being studied to establish the gravity of his ailment. Medical sources told the newspaper it could be a stroke.
The Family’s Press Release
“Adolfo is in good spirits; he walked and had lunch. The studies carried out so far show good results,” the Perez Esquivel Family informed officially as did the Peace and Justice Service of Argentina (SERPA) on the social networks. “As a precaution, he will remain under observation for 24 hours with complementary analyses to see his evolution. We will let you know of any news. We are grateful for your concern and that of those that have been in touch with us asking about Adolfo,” reads the report.
“Like you all, we hope and desire his prompt improvement. We will keep you informed in case of any news,” concludes the report.
Translation by Virginia M. Forrester
