People are being urged to “pray fervently” for the recovery of Gozo Bishop Emeritus Nikol Cauchi who is still under observation in hospital where he is being treated for heart failure.
Bishop Mario Grech called for collective prayer for his predecessor, who he described as “a father figure for Gozo” and “a teacher” who left his mark on the country.
“Now’s the time of trial where we will show him we were good students,” he said as he urged people to pray to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu to whom Mgr Cauchi was devoted.
Mgr Cauchi, 81, went to the Gozo General Hospital on Wednesday complaining of shortness of breath. He was kept there for treatment and was eventually put on a ventilator and placed under sedation while in the cardiac unit.
Mgr Cauchi was transferred to Mater Dei Hospital yesterday morning by a helicopter of the Italian Military Mission that interrupted a training operation to shuttle the former bishop to Malta. By the time he landed at the hospital, at about 9.40 a.m., he was in a critical but stable condition, the mission’s log said.
Relatives and high-ranking members of the clergy visited him at the Intensive Therapy Unit where, until yesterday night, he was being kept under observation and treated for heart failure, the Department of Information said. He was still under sedation.
People who visited him included Mgr Grech, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca and Auxiliary Bishop Annetto Depasquale.
Mgr Grech urged the faithful to “pray fervently” for the recovery of Mgr Cauchi who led the Gozo diocese between 1972 and 2005.
He said he had a long conversation with Mgr Cauchi last Sunday and they discussed projects in the pipeline. Mgr Cauchi also spoke about plans to write a book and his scheduled participation on an RTK radio programme yesterday.
Several priests, many of whom were ordained by Mgr Cauchi, met at the Gozo seminary, in Victoria, to pray for their former bishop yesterday at 7.30 p.m.
Mgr Grech invited people to gather at their local parishes to offer their prayers during the Thursday night adoration sessions.
Mgr Cauchi’s family has asked for his privacy to be respected.