Pope prays for critically ill former Filipino president

(July 20, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI is assuring former Filipino President Corazon Aquino of his prayers as she goes through a critical stage of cancer. Aquino, who is 76, is currently in a serious condition and is under 24-hour surveillance at the Makati Medical Center, after battling colon cancer since March 2008. The apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Adams, wrote a letter to Aquino, conveying the Pope's message sent through his secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. The Pontiff affirmed that he is "spiritually close" to the former president in her suffering. "The Holy Father has asked that you be informed that he is remembering you in his prayers,” the letter said. "At the same time he invoked upon you the blessing of Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in pledge of healing and comfort." Henrietta de Villa, the country's former ambassador to the Holy See personally delivered the letter to Aquino on Wednesday, saying the former president was "deeply consoled." On Sunday, Aquino's family announced that her condition had deteriorated, but that she had decided to cease chemotherapy. She has also received the anointing of the sick. Aquino was president of the overwhelmingly Catholic nation from 1986 to 1992.