His attitude toward officials at the Vatican also has undergone a change. In the past he was known as stern and formal and on occasion spoke sharply when he felt that work had not been done properly. He worked long hours himself, never complained of ailments and discouraged complaints by others.
Since his illness, the Pontiff has shown much greater interest in the personal problems of his intimate collaborators without in any way lessening his desire that all energies be devoted to carrying on official duties at the Vatican.
There is less of the stern formality about his relations with his colleagues. Frequently he remarks to close friends that he feels even better than before his illness.
The Pope told one member of the College of Cardinals that he had learned a great deal from his sickness. In his youth, the Pontiff was a great mountain climber and he had never been really ill until the illness from which he has just recovered. Now he told the Cardinal, he understands many things more clearly because of his own suffering and he feels he is much wiser.
"Mellow asd Human"
Recently a Cardinal from abroad was much surprised by the change in the Pontiff generally, particularly in view of the fact that two years ago physicians predicted that he would never walk again. The Cardinal was'received by the Pope in a kindly and informal manner. As they talked, the (Pontiff crossed his legs easily and his fingers tapped carelessly on the heel of his red slipper. Much to the surprise of the visiting Cardinal, he seemed to have recovered the use of his legs to a remarkable extent.
Later, the same Cardinal remarked that the Pope was "much more mellow and human."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.