7 - Who Owns the Pope's Body?

In 1954, Pius XII’s health collapses — and with it, his trust in his lifelong doctor, Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi. Newly unearthed diaries from Cardinal Domenico Tardini expose a year of rivalries, deception, and failed cures: rectal feeding, false medical bulletins, and the clash between Riccardo and the charismatic Dr. Paul Niehans. As the Pope suffers visions and humiliation, medicine turns into politics, and the Vatican becomes a battlefield of egos. This episode reveals the hidden struggle for control over the dying pontiff’s body — and his legacy.Discover more at RiccardoPodcast.com — where, starting September 17, 2025, you’ll find documents, research, and exclusive insights expanding on the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.