Posted on 03/31/2005 9:54:01 PM PST by bd476
Edited on 04/02/2005 7:53:51 AM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
From Rome CBS Radio News: (rough transcription of update)
The Vatican has been transparent in allowing news media access to information about Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II is responsible for the change in how the Vatican views the media.
At this time, Pope John Paul II's condition is unchanged.
His heart and kidneys are failing. The Vatican said that this does not suggest that he is suffering.
He has a compromised state of consciousness, yet he is not in a comatose state.
He drifts in and out of consciousness. One Vatican source said that it appeared that the Pope is resting with his eyes shut.
Pope John Paul II has responded by opening his eyes when spoken to. He has also tried to speak in the past few hours.
An Aide assisted Pope John Paul II in writing a message to his beloved staff gathered in the Papal apartment. The Pope asked them not to be sad for him.
____________________
Pope John Paul II has suffered a cardiac arrest and is in a grave condition, the Vatican has announced.
The urgent communique came hours after the Pope's health worsened with a high fever caused by an infection.
"Following a urinary tract infection, septic shock and a cardiocirculatory collapse occurred," Vatican spokesman Navarro-Valls said in his statement.
The Pope was also given the last rites - the Catholic sacrament for the sick and dying, the spokesman said.
But he said the pontiff remained "conscious, lucid and tranquil".
The emergency department chief at Rome's Gemelli hospital said on Thursday the Pope would not be taken to hospital for the time being.
Some observers said this suggested it meant he was too weak to be moved at all.
Sombre mood
Small groups of faithful gathered at St Peter's Square in Rome to pray for the Pope's speedy recovery.
However, the mood in the Vatican is sombre, the BBC's David Willey in Rome reports.
Prelates are openly expressing pessimism about the possibility of the Pope ever resuming the guidance of his one billion-strong church, our correspondent says.
The pontiff is being fed through a nasal tube to aid his recovery from throat surgery last month.
The Pope had appeared briefly at the window of his Vatican apartment on Easter Sunday to bless the faithful, but was not able to speak.
It was the first time during his 26-year pontificate that the Pope delegated the main Easter ceremonies to his cardinals.
'Lost weight'
On Thursday afternoon, the Pope's temperature soared to 40 degrees C (104F), Italian media reported.
He developed breathing troubles and has difficulty in swallowing as a result of the progress of Parkinson's Disease, an incurable condition from which he has been suffering for nearly a decade.
Since his throat surgery, he has lost about 19 kg (42 lb), Father Hejmo said, which leaves him more vulnerable to infections.
The Pope's private doctor Renato Buzzetti is in charge of his medical treatment in his private apartment at the Vatican.
So far this year the Pope has had two spells in hospital where he received treatment for breathing problems and underwent an operation on his throat.
Update on the health of Pope John Paul II, April 2, 2005 1:30 a.m.
Special report live from CBS News at the Vatican
(This is a rough transcript of the CBS news conference with the Italian translator and Vatican representative)
Substantially and varied (blood values?) very serious very grave
We hope to serve ... earlier initial state of consciousness AT 7:30 a.m. we celebrated of Mass with the Pope he is breathing, labored or slightly...
Pope had in mind young people...
This is difficult ...
Pope seemed to refer to young people when he repeatedly seemed to say "I've been looking for you and now you've come to me... "
We've been able to reconstruct what he said, this is what he said.
We have this update now for you until this evening...
I cannot confirm the particular rumors ... (inaudible)
Probably around 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. we will have another update for you...
He is not in a coma.
When we speak to him he opens his eyes.
He seems to be receptive.
We are not talking about coma here.
Question from media: Who is always present with the Pope?
Answer: Monsignor (inaudible) the other Secretary to the Holy Father the three Nuns of the Holy Father, his personal physician.
Thank you very much and we will see you later.
God So Loved the World
16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Thanks, actually almost every TV station in Poland has programs about Pope’s life. Very sad moments…
That's heartwarming to hear Lukasz. Pope John Paul II is beloved worldwide, and of course, he would be beloved by his home country.
Thank you Mo1 that is a beautiful song. Thank you for posting it to me!
What a great man. Defender of civilization against totalitarian tyranny and secular humanism.
From Rome CBS Radio News: (rough transcription of update)
The Vatican has been transparent in allowing news media access to information about Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II is responsible for the change in how the Vatican views the media.
At this time, Pope John Paul II's condition is unchanged.
His heart and kidneys are failing. The Vatican said that this does not suggest that he is suffering.
He has a compromised state of consciousness, yet he is not in a comatose state.
He drifts in and out of consciousness. One Vatican source said that it appeared that the Pope is resting with his eyes shut.
Pope John Paul II has responded by opening his eyes when spoken to. He has also tried to speak in the past few hours.
An Aide assisted Pope John Paul II in writing a message to his beloved staff gathered in the Papal apartment. The Pope asked them not to be sad for him.
That is a great picture HMBA. Thank you!
Here's the latest update on Pope John Paul II's condition:
As with Reagan, the Pope is one of the people I grew up with when the Evil Empire was around....
He will be missed when he goes. He is a fighter as the Commies and Nazis have found out the hard way....
Thank You for the update
Another high fever :(
A doctor who is an infectious disease consultant says it is hard to predict, this could go on for many hours.
Outside the Vatican in St. Petersburg Square there are tens of thousands of people singing and cheering for the Holy Father.
Los Angeles Catholic Churches are having open vigils all day today. In Chicago, 900,000 people of Polish descent share a special bond with Pope John Paul II.
In Poland, the home country for the Holy Father there are continuing prayer vigils.
Poles feel a deeply personal connection to the Pope. Some knew him as a young priest when he was an active outdoorsman, ski companion. Others recall when he gave lectures on metaphysics.
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