‘Pope John Paul is in a “very grave” condition and appeared close to death after suffering heart failure, the Vatican said.
“He is fading serenely,” said Polish Cardinal Andrzej Maria Deskur, a close friend.
But the Holy See denied reports that the 84-year-old pontiff was in a coma in his Vatican apartment after refusing hospital treatment.
The Pope’s […]
‘Pope John Paul appeared close to death on Friday after heart failure and breathing problems, but was still conscious and in a stable but serious condition at midday, the Vatican said.
Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the Pope had received the “Holy Viaticum” communion, reserved for those near death, after a sharp downturn in his health overnight. […]
Vatican Radio is reporting that Pope John Paul is reacting well to the antibiotics that have been administered and his condition has stabilized.
Update - the media is picking up this story now (they really should blogging - its a lot faster) - read more at:
Pope apparently stable: Vatican radio.
There are reports from Rome that large crowds of people are gathering outside the Vatican waiting for news on the Pope’s health. Thousands of people have gathered despite it currently being 2am in Rome to pray, cry and wait. There has been no further official news from the Vatican.
Update - Reuters picks up this story […]
‘Doctors say the latest health crisis will be a challenge for Pope John Paul II to overcome, given the number of ailments weakening his frail body.
The 84-year-old pontiff, who began receiving nutrition through a feeding tube on Wednesday, developed a high fever Thursday because of a urinary tract infection. The pope was immediately put on […]
‘ Pope John Paul II developed a high fever Thursday because of a urinary tract infection and was being treated with antibiotics at the Vatican, his spokesman said. The latest health setback for the 84-year-old pontiff came one day after he began receiving nutrition through a feeding tube.
“The Holy Father today was struck by a […]
‘A decision by Pope John Paul II’s doctors to feed him through a nasal tube takes the treatment of the chronically ill pontiff closer to the ethically and religiously wrenching decisions of what medical measures should be taken to prolong life and for how long.
Doctors have threaded a tube through the pope’s nose to his […]
‘Vatican officials are increasingly pessimistic about the prospects for Pope John Paul’s full recovery from his ailments, with many agreeing that he has entered a new and perhaps final phase of his long papacy.
The 84-year-old Pope has been convalescing from throat surgery for more than a month now and aides say he is disappointed by […]
‘The use of a feeding tube for Pope John Paul II, struggling to recover from throat surgery, illustrates a key point of Roman Catholic policy he himself has proclaimed: It is morally necessary to give patients food and water, no matter their condition.
As Parkinson’s disease and other ailments have left him increasingly frail, John Paul […]
‘The choice of a nasal feeding tube instead of a stomach tube to boost the pope’s nutrition indicates his doctors may be expecting the problem to be temporary, medical experts say.
The nose tube may also have been chosen to get the pontiff strong enough for a more invasive procedure to insert a feeding tube in […]
‘ The use of a feeding tube for Pope John Paul II illustrates a key point of Roman Catholic doctrine he himself has proclaimed toward the aging and chronically ill: The administration of food and water to a patient is morally necessary.
As he has become increasingly frail due to Parkinson’s disease and other ailments, John […]
‘Pope John Paul II may have to return to the hospital to have a feeding tube inserted, an Italian news agency reported Tuesday.
It stressed that no decision had been made. The APcom news agency, citing an unidentified source, said the 84-year-old pope might have to have the tube inserted to improve his nutrition since he […]
‘The decision to place a microphone in front of Pope John Paul II on Easter Sunday was a mistake, a Vatican source said Monday.
The 84-year-old pontiff’s painful, unsuccessful effort to speak was witnessed around the world on television.
The scene inevitably called into question Vatican assurances that John Paul was recovering well from the Feb. 24 […]
‘Pope John Paul is vomiting, suffering strong headaches and not responding well to his medications, an Italian news agency reported yesterday.
But the head of the pontiff’s medical team, Dr. Rodolfo Proietti, ruled out media speculation that the Pope might need to return to the hospital he was discharged from 10 days ago.
“No hospitalization of John […]