Pope prays for recovery of Argentina's President

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis sent a telegram on Wednesday to the President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, offering his prayers for her safe and speedy recovery.

Ms Fernandez suffered a head injury 2 months ago, but was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma – or bleeding – only last weekend. She underwent a 2-hour surgical operation on Tuesday, and is now recovering in the Favaloro Foundation Hospital in Buenos Aires.

Pope Francis knows President Kirchner from his time in Argentina, and received her in the Vatican earlier this year.

Please find below the full text of the papal telegram, in translation from the original Spanish.

In these, such difficult times, I wish to make my support felt with my prayer for you and for the complete recovery of your health. I hope you can feel my support through these words. I assure you of my prayers and of my solidarity. I pray to the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Luján, to strengthen you, so that you may keep your hopes high and return once again to your daily duties. I do not forget your family at this difficult time, nor the doctor who assists you, praying to the Lord to shed His light on them, so that they might make the right choices in their decisions.

May Jesus bless you and the Holy Virgin take care of you.

Cordially,

Francisco, PP.