The Vatican has refused to say what was wrong with Monsignor Pietro Parolin, only that he underwent surgery unexpectedly and missed the October 15 ceremony at which he was to take up his duties as secretary of state.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev Federico Lombardi, said he spoke with the 58-year-old Parolin today. He said the surgery went well and that Parolin would take some time to recover at home in Italy's Veneto region and hoped to "soon" take up his responsibilities in Rome.