Rudy Giuliani Says He Had Spiritual Experience During Pneumonia Coma

Rudy Giuliani, 81, returned to his online talk show “America’s Mayor Live!” on May 13 after recovering from a severe case of viral pneumonia that left him in a coma earlier this month.

“I feel like I’ve recovered 100%,” Giuliani said. “I’ve been home a few days and doing really, really well.”

Giuliani described a “very significant spiritual experience” that occurred while he was unconscious. He likened it to a dream in which he was headed toward a trial with St. Peter.

“There was a very, very significant intervention by my Peter. I have my own Peter, Peter Powers. Peter J. Powers, my friend of my lifetime,” he said.

Giuliani said Powers spoke “very significant words” that he wrote down after waking so he would not forget them. He later discussed the experience with a priest and said he plans to share more details later.

“I don’t want to embellish it,” he said. “I don’t want to deny what was there.”

Powers and Giuliani became friends in high school. Powers later served as Giuliani’s campaign manager and first deputy mayor. He died in 2016 at age 72 from lung cancer complications.

Giuliani was admitted to the hospital on May 3 in critical but stable condition with severe breathing problems. His doctor, Maria Ryan, said his condition worsened after a trip to Paris and that he was placed on a ventilator. A priest was called to administer last rites before his condition improved enough for doctors to remove the ventilator.

Political strategist Ted Goodman said Giuliani’s exposure to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks later led to a diagnosis of restrictive airway disease. Giuliani and his doctors have not confirmed that he had a near-death experience.