Computer-whiz cardinal answers medical questions as Vatican official

Published: 2006-03-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A trained theologian and self-taught computer whiz, Mexican Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan now spends most of his time dealing with very technical medical questions. The 73-year-old cardinal is president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, which encourages the work of hospital chaplains, but goes well beyond strictly pastoral concerns. "We must provide guidance on the various problems that face the world of health care today, from specific illnesses to technological discoveries, from political decisions to medical practice," Cardinal Lozano told Catholic News Service. Pulling what he described as a "2-gigabyte memory stick" from his breast pocket, plugging it into his computer and calling up current statistics, Cardinal Lozano said the more than 109,000 Catholic hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, convalescent centers and other health-related institutions around the world are a concrete sign of the church's love for all men and women.

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