Vatican statement: Pope's condition is very serious
Vatican City (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Pope John Paul II's condition is "very serious," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls told reporters early Friday.
Navarro-Valls said the pope had suffered "cardiocirculatory collapse and shock," but denied media reports that the ailing pontiff had had a heart attack. Pope John Paul's fragile health took a sharp turn for the worse on Thursday evening as he developed a very high fever caused by a urinary infection.
Navarro-Valls said the 84-year-old Pope had been given the "Holy Viaticum" - communion reserved for those who are sick or close to death - and had decided himself not to go to hospital for treatment. The Vatican statement said the Pope had received cardio-respiratory assistance on Thursday and on Friday morning was still "conscious, lucid and tranquil". It said the Pope celebrated Mass with his close aides at 6.00 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Friday.
The Cardinal Secretary of State and the Pope's other closest collaborators, united with him in prayer, are monitoring the development of the Holy Father's health conditions. The Pope is under the care of his personal physician, Dr Renato Buzzonetti, two specialists in reanimation, a cardiologist, an ear-nose-and-throat specialist, and two nurses.
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01/04/2005
