Archbishop Paul Gallagher
ON THE RECORD · 12 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“I think we were maybe taking him a little bit for granted.”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher reflected on assumptions about the Pope's health before his cancer diagnosis was announced.
“that he was not quite like the rest of us who are very aware of our vulnerabilities and the ageing process”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher said church figures may have assumed the Pope was less vulnerable to the ageing process than others.
“it's going to make things a bit different”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher discussed the expected impact of the Pope's health news on Vatican affairs.
“bring a spirit of renewed hope”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher said the Pope would bring renewed hope following rapturous welcomes in France and Spain earlier in the year.
“We have exchanged a little bit,”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher mentioned he had exchanged messages with the Pope regarding a potential UK visit.
“a bit of a game changer”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher commented on the news of Pope Leo XIV's ill health following the announcement of his surgery.
“And Pope Leo comes along and he's sporty and he seems to be in excellent health, and now we're told that he's not in excellent health and things have got to be sorted out.”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher noted the shift from the Pope appearing sporty and healthy to learning he requires medical attention.
“It's in some ways I think going to be a bit of a game changer after having the latter years of Pope Francis when he was in the wheelchair.”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher contrasted Pope Leo XIV's apparent good health with Pope Francis's later years in a wheelchair.
“But lots of us have been through similar experiences at different times in our lives, and we've got through them, and so we hope it's going to be the same case with Pope Leo.”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher expressed hope that the Pope would recover from his surgery as others have from similar experiences.
“He's just beginning to think about what he might do in 2027, but it's still very much at the examining the possibilities (stage)”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher said the Pope is beginning to consider his schedule for 2027, with a UK visit under examination.
“I am concerned. I think we've got to ask the question: how was it discovered? What happened?”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher raised questions about how the Pope's lung condition was discovered.
“But these things do take quite a lot of planning, and so you don't just do it overnight.”
Archbishop Paul Gallagher · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-17
Gallagher noted that papal trips require extensive planning and cannot be arranged quickly.