According to officials from the Wisconsin shrine that he founded, a high-ranking Roman Catholic cardinal was taken off a ventilator after contracting Covid-19.
Raymond Burke was to be admitted to a regular hospital at an undisclosed place, according to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Burke, at 73, was one of the most outspoken Catholic conservatives. He had been put under anesthesia and placed on a ventilator after he announced on 10 August that the coronavirus had struck.
His sister spoke to him by phone today, and His Eminence expressed deep gratitude for the many prayers that were offered on his behalf.
His family requests that we keep our prayers going for him and continue to pray for his speedy recovery. They are thankful to God for the outstanding medical care Cardinal received from the nurses and doctors who continue to help.
A previous statement from the shrine stated that Burke had received sacraments and that several relics were placed in his room.
Burke was a bishop in the Diocese in La Crosse, before becoming Archbishop of St Louis. In 2008, he left St Louis to head the Vatican's supreme Court. He was the first American to be in that position.
His reputation as a conservative leader was built when he stated that he would not give Holy Communion in 2004 to John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, because Kerry supported abortion rights. He criticized the University of Notre Dame for plans to award President Barack Obama an honourary degree in 2009 because he supported abortion rights.
Pope Francis expelled Burke from the Vatican court after Burke claimed that the church was like an unreliable ship.
Burke was joined by three conservative cardinals to ask the pope why he allowed remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion.
Burke warned that governments are using fear of the pandemic as a way to manipulate people. He opposed mandatory vaccinations starting in May 2020 and stated that some people want microchips implanted in their bodies. He said that Jesus Christ was the best weapon to fight the virus.
