The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, visited the Gemelli Hospital in Rome this morning to leave a message for Pope John Paul II, who is recovering there from throat surgery. The Cardinal was accompanied by Archbishop Patrick Kelly of Liverpool, who is vice-president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

The message the Cardinal left reads as follows:

“I came with the love and the prayers of the Catholic people of England and Wales, and of so many others, for the Holy Father.”

The Cardinal is in Rome for routine visits to Vatican congregations.