Mahony, Treated in Rome Hospital for Leg Injury, Won’t Miss Conclave

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles was hospitalized here for four days this week suffering from a hematoma, or mass of congealed blood, in his left leg, his spokesman said Friday.

Mahony, 69, who is in Rome with the world’s Roman Catholic cardinals to elect a successor to Pope John Paul II, said he slipped and bumped his leg while on vacation in Northern California just before his trip to the Vatican.

During his April 1 flight to Rome, Mahony complained about feeling sore. But not until a week later was he taken to the Casa di Cura Pio XI clinic for X-rays and ultrasound tests, which confirmed the absence of a fracture or blood clot in the leg. He was soon admitted to the clinic and was discharged Wednesday.

Spokesman Tod Tamberg explained Friday that he had delayed announcing Mahony’s medical condition because he did not want to cause a commotion in the Italian media. Tamberg said the cardinal, whose leg was healing, was expected to fully participate in the conclave to select a new pope, which starts Monday.

In April 2002, Mahony was admitted to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank to treat a pulmonary embolism, or blood clot in his lung. At the time, experts speculated that the clot could have been caused by Mahony’s flights to Rome and back for a two-day conference.