Apostolic Nuncio to USA Archbp. Sambi gravely ill

The Apostolic Nuncio to the USA is gravely ill.  I suggest prayer for him and his family.

From the CNS blog:

Vatican ambassador to U.S. on ‘assisted ventilation’
Posted on July 22, 2011 by Jim Lackey

UPDATED  7/23

By Julie Asher
Catholic News Service

Archbishop Pietro Sambi, papal nuncio to the United States, “has been placed on assisted ventilation” since experiencing complications after he underwent “a delicate lung surgery” two weeks ago, according to the apostolic nunciature in Washington.

The ventilation is necessary “to attempt recovery of his lung function,” the nunciature said in an announcement released in the early evening July 22.

“The apostolic nunciature and the nuncio’s family kindly ask that bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful offer sacrifices and prayers for the health of the apostolic nuncio,” it said.

A veteran Vatican diplomat, Archbishop Sambi was named as papal nuncio to the U.S. by Pope Benedict XVI in December 2005. At the time of his appointment he was the Vatican’s representative to Israel and Palestine, where he helped arrange Pope John Paul II’s historic pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2000.

After he arrived in the U.S. Feb. 24, 2006, he said in an interview with Catholic News Service in Washington that that he is impressed by the vitality of U.S. Catholicism, the level of weekly Mass attendance among U.S. Catholics and their generosity toward others.

As a papal diplomat “I travel a lot throughout the world,” he said. “It is difficult to find a part of the world where the charity of U.S. Catholics did not reach the poor or sick people.”

The archbishop is known for his warm and affable manner, sense of humor and being open and ready to listen to people.

During Pope Benedict’s April 2008 visit to the U.S., Archbishop Sambi accompanied the pope and during the pontiff’s stay in Washington hosted him at the nunciature, where the pope had a historic private meeting with five victims of clergy sexual abuse.

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16 Comments

  1. MJ says:

    Prayers coming!

  2. DominiSumus says:

    I will remember him at Mass today.

  3. Hail Mary going out for the archbishop now. Aside, shame on CNS for mentioning the clergy sex abuse scandal in this context.

  4. Thanks for putting this up, Father.

    Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
    that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
    implored your help or sought your intercession,
    was left unaided.

    Inspired with this confidence,
    I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;
    to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

    O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
    despise not my petitions,
    but in your mercy hear and answer me.

    Amen.

  5. chcrix says:

    “After he arrived in the U.S. Feb. 24, 2006, he said in an interview with Catholic News Service in Washington that that he is impressed by the vitality of U.S. Catholicism (and) the level of weekly Mass attendance among U.S. Catholics…”

    That’s kind of scary.

  6. Geoffrey says:

    I had the grace of hearing him speak at the Installation Mass of my bishop a few years back, as well as a few homilies on EWTN. I pray for his full recovery, that he may continue serving the Church.

  7. @chcrix – consider that His Excellency hails from a continent where Mass attendance is much lower.

  8. robtbrown says:

    Diane at Te Deum Laudamus says:

    @chcrix – consider that His Excellency hails from a continent where Mass attendance is much lower.

    True, but it’s also a continent where pro-aborts and those who don’t accept Church teaching on marriage and sexuality usually don’t attend mass or pretend they’re believing Catholics.

  9. Phillip says:

    I, too, will remember His Excellency in my prayers today at Mass.

  10. benedetta says:

    All of the homilies and interviews of him I have listened to have been excellent, very encouraging and hopeful. He seemed to exude a confidence and a joy in the interviews with him I have watched. I will pray for him, with gratitude for all he has done for Catholics in this country and the world.

  11. frjim4321 says:

    I had the honor to meet him once and found him to be quite a gentleman. I certainly will pray for his complete recovery.

  12. Father,

    While remembering the nuncio in prayer, is it rude to mention at this time the affinity he exudes for pro-choice Catholic politicians and the confusion this stirs among the faithful? Is there a fear that we, more rigid people, might not want to pray for someone who perplexes us?

    I have searched in vain for news reports where the nuncio condemns abortion per se, or homosexual marriage, or stemcell research… Can someone, please, help me out here?

    [Te Deum has a video which seems only to show him reading the Pope’s letter at a life rally. Does attending life rallies pretty much cover the nuncio’s pro-life activisim.? Or can someone show me one instance where the nuncio actually presented the Catholic life position to our governmental officials?

  13. Jerry says:

    @kneeling catholic – “While remembering the nuncio in prayer, is it rude to mention at this time the affinity he exudes for pro-choice Catholic politicians and the confusion this stirs among the faithful?”

    No, it’s not rude. You blew past rude and left it standing in the dust.

  14. It is incredible to me and deeply disappointing that people would use this occasion to “trash” Archbp. Sambi.

    This is our baptized brother who is gravely ill and like to die. He is a bishop and will have a severe… severe judgement.

    So PRAY for the man for the love of GOD!

    If you are Christian you pray for him, for God’s mercy, for his conversion, … pray for him. If you think you know better than him, and even if you are RIGHT,… pray for him,

    To turn my request for prayers for a dying man into a moment to spit…

    … try to be more generous.

  15. AnAmericanMother says:

    Remembered Abp. Sambi today at Mass and in my Rosary.
    Father, I apologize for being remiss in not noting this earlier. Inappropriate comments look much worse in relative isolation.
    I’m sitting here by my dad’s hospital bed doing ‘night shift’, so believe me I am in full sympathy.

  16. >>>It is incredible to me and deeply disappointing that people would use this occasion to “trash” Archbp. Sambi.<<>If you are Christian you pray for him, for God’s mercy, for his conversion, … pray for him. If you think you know better than him, and even if you are RIGHT,… pray for him,<<<

    I read you loud and clear, however…..There seems to a presumption here that I, being scandalized with how the man does his job, would not already be praying for him. As you point out in the second quote, we should, primarily, pray for his soul.

    I do pray for the man.

    Pray for me

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