Rome (AsiaNews) – Speaking on the health conditions of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, the Holy See's  Press Office Director, Dr. Joaquín Navarro-Valls, released the following statement this morning at 11 a.m.: (AsiaNews translation):"With the continuation of respiratory assistance treatment last night, overall conditions have stabilized.  Cardio-respiratory and metabolic parameters are currently within normal bounds.  Thus the diagnosis, as announced last night, of acute laryngeal tracheitis with bouts of laryngeal spasms has been confirmed.  The Holy Father slept for a few hours last night.  For his stay in hospital, the Holy Father is under the care of the medical team led by Professor Rodolfo Proietti, Head of Emergency".  Navarro Valls added the Pope has "a very slight fever".

Today, when his spokesman left the Gemelli Hospital, the Pope was taking part, from his bed, in a Mass celebrated by his secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz.

The Pope was admitted to hospital last night for an acute case of laryngeal tracheitis.  He was given a CAT scan to monitor laryngeal spasms, which are no longer affecting him.

At last Sunday's Angelus prayer, the Pope was visibly not well due to a bad flu: a strong cough and phlegm affected his breathing.

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