We congratulate Payne et al for the funny idea and the Journal
which sought to publish the results of a statistical correlation between
papal deaths and Wales rugby performances.
Nevertheless, from our point of view of being:
1) roman medical doctors, one of us working in the Vatican Medical
Team ( Zuccaro S ndr ).
2) Devout Catholics,
we feel a little bit worried for the consequences of such
“advertisment” on the Pope’s mental health.
Thus we ask to BMJ to accept few suggestions, as follows:
1) crociates against Welsh rugby
2) to engage a good psychotherapist in the Vatican medical team to support our
Pope
3) to buy all the copies of Payne’s article, so to avoid that Benedict
XVI may read it.
4) Ask the Pope to pray a little bit harder for England, Scotland, Ireland
rugby teams and a little bit softly for Wales.
Anyway, we feel much more worried for Wales rugby team than for
Pope’s health, which is really in good hands.
In fact in our country when we say “everytime a Pope dies” we mean
“something so rare that it never happens”.
So our interpretation of Payne’s article is that Wales rugby team should
improve its performances and try to win more frequently!
Best regards
Walter Gianni M.D. PhD Geriatric Unit INRCA IRCCS Rome
Paola Gazzaniga, M.D., PhD “ Sapienza” University of Rome
Stefano Zuccaro MD Geriatric Unit Ospedale Israelitico Rome and Vatican
Medical Team
Giuseppe Luzi MD, PhD “ Sapienza” University of Rome
Rapid Response:
don't worry, Pope!
In reply to Payne GC, BMJ 2008;337:a2768
Dear Editor,
We congratulate Payne et al for the funny idea and the Journal
which sought to publish the results of a statistical correlation between
papal deaths and Wales rugby performances.
Nevertheless, from our point of view of being:
1) roman medical doctors, one of us working in the Vatican Medical
Team ( Zuccaro S ndr ).
2) Devout Catholics,
we feel a little bit worried for the consequences of such
“advertisment” on the Pope’s mental health.
Thus we ask to BMJ to accept few suggestions, as follows:
1) crociates against Welsh rugby
2) to engage a good psychotherapist in the Vatican medical team to support our
Pope
3) to buy all the copies of Payne’s article, so to avoid that Benedict
XVI may read it.
4) Ask the Pope to pray a little bit harder for England, Scotland, Ireland
rugby teams and a little bit softly for Wales.
Anyway, we feel much more worried for Wales rugby team than for
Pope’s health, which is really in good hands.
In fact in our country when we say “everytime a Pope dies” we mean
“something so rare that it never happens”.
So our interpretation of Payne’s article is that Wales rugby team should
improve its performances and try to win more frequently!
Best regards
Walter Gianni M.D. PhD Geriatric Unit INRCA IRCCS Rome
Paola Gazzaniga, M.D., PhD “ Sapienza” University of Rome
Stefano Zuccaro MD Geriatric Unit Ospedale Israelitico Rome and Vatican
Medical Team
Giuseppe Luzi MD, PhD “ Sapienza” University of Rome
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests