Pope's surgeon dies of cancer

Vatican City - Pope John Paul's personal surgeon, who helped save the pontiff's life in an emergency operation after he was shot…

Vatican City - Pope John Paul's personal surgeon, who helped save the pontiff's life in an emergency operation after he was shot in an assassination attempt in 1981, died yesterday, the Vatican said.

Professor Francesco Crucitti, was considered a leading expert in oncological and digestive surgery. The pope travelled by car to Prof Crucitti's home in central Rome to deliver his condolences personally to the surgeon's family.