[kingattax]

May God watch over him and i sure hope he's not related to Terry Schiavo's husband.

[prairiebreeze]

The pope had approved the procedure, which the Vatican characterized as elective - underscoring that it was not done as an emergency measure.

[mdittmar]

This is not good,the Tracheotomy was an emergency measure,he can't breath on his own.

Prayers.

[Kimmers]

I am not Catholic but I sure do admire this man....have said many prayers...

[TomB]

We are on the same page. I cannot believe that they are forcing him through this, at 84 do not recusitate is wisdom.">

Sorry....

The pope had approved the procedure, which the Vatican characterized as elective - underscoring that it was not done as an emergency measure.

[AlbionGirl]

His suffering moves me too. Last time he was in the hospital I went to Mass for him, and prayed that his life would continue, and I pray again for the same thing. He wants to live, I know that, so I want for him what he wants for himself. He's willing to struggle.

He's one of the best examples of His (the Lord's and his own) Culture of Life.

I pray he's not suffering too much, and I pray that he feels the caress of the Lord in this latest struggle of his.

[GreenHornet]

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the tracheotomy lasted 30 minutes and the outcome was "positive." The pope had approved the procedure, which the Vatican characterized as elective - underscoring that it was not done as an emergency measure.

I find it difficult to understand how something as serious as a tracheotomy could be considered an "elective" procedure. I fear we are witnessing the Pontiff's final days. My prayers are with him.

[radiohead]

I'm no longer a Catholic, but I was moved by his recent statement about respect for the difficulties of the elderly. It is a hard thing to remember sometimes, even in my own middle age.

I will have to meditate on his statement that the suffering of the sick "is never useless." I don't know. Perhaps in all suffering there are lessons to be learned, but it seems a hard way to learn them sometimes and so often the innocent suffer.

Still, I hope he is not suffering too much and that he either recovers or that if he does not, God grants him the grace to to deal with his situation.

[Salvation]

From FoxNews:

Pope 'Serene' Following Tracheotomy

Thursday, February 24, 2005

PHOTOS

VIDEO

Click image to enlarge

STORIES

•

Fast Facts: Tracheotomy

•

Pope May Have Infection

•

Papal Resignations Are Rare

•

White House Wishes Pope Well

•

Pope Addresses Pilgrims on Video

•

Pope Criticized for Abortion-Holocaust Comparison

•

Pope Calls for Peace in Lebanon

•

Pope Recalls Brush With Death in New Book

•

Doc: Pope Recovered Faster Than Expected

•

Pope Leaves Hospital in Rome

•

Chronology: Pope John Paul II

•

Raw Data: Pope's Medical Problems

VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul II () was recovering Thursday after undergoing a successful tracheotomy to assist him with breathing difficulties as he struggles with flu symptoms.

The Vatican () issued a statement saying doctors at the Gemelli Polyclinic () successfully operated on the pope after he gave his consent and that he will not spend the night in intensive care. The pope was back in his his hospital room and breathing with the help of a respirator, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The Vatican characterized the procedure as elective — underscoring that it was not done as an emergency measure.

An aide to Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said the pope was conscious and "serene" after the operation. The pope raised his hand and attempted to speak with doctors but was told not to try, Cabinet Undersecretary Gianni Letta told reporters at Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome.

The procedure, in which a hole is made in the throat and a tube is inserted, was performed to help the pontiff with his breathing. It is not seen as threatening and usually is left in for two or three days. There were conflicting reports over whether the pontiff was sedated under general or local anesthesia during the operation.

[Salvation]

Prayer Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Prayer Ping List.

Please join me in praying for the Pope's health and full recovery.

[bd476]

God Bless and heal Pope John Paul. Dear God, please hear the prayers and please continue to hold in comfort and faith those who pray for Pope John Paul's complete and speedy recovery.

[Ciexyz]

Gee, I hope the culture of death doesn't extend to the Vatican. After all, John Paul II can't breathe without a tube. What if some euthanasia contingent claims that he's suffering diminished quality of life and demands the removal of that tube?

[hispanarepublicana]

Why does the Drudge headline say ''Silenced''? Did the trach permanently affect his voice?

[narses]

Prayer ping for His Holiness.

[sevry]

underscoring that it was not done as an emergency measure

I wonder if whoever said that is still on ebay trying to auction off the bridge over that narrow channel into SF Bay? That is, one might be suspicious.

I just hope more 'documents' and 'decrees' don't come down in the meanwhile all supposedly signed by the Pope. It's only to recall Wormtongue in Jackson's retelling of LOTR, as he holds up the order against Eomer - it's from the King, he signed it this morning.

One has to pray that JP II gets right with God and The Church, while he still lives. But his time surely is running out. And it will be interesting to see who is the new Pontiff, and whether he at all moves more finally and openly to the left and rebellion, or toward more Catholic orthodoxy, this from the fairly ambiguous, always suspect, and categorically disastrous policies of the PC Popes.

[Cicero]

In the clearest sign that the Vatican may be taking the eventuality of papal resignation seriously, Vatican No. 2 Cardinal Angelo Sodano declined to rule out the possibility during John Paul's first hospitalization this month, saying it was up to the pope's conscience.

This statement of Cardinal Sodano's has been twisted by the media. The liberals are just dying to get Pope John Paul II out of the way so they can elect some dissident into office and get all the things they have dreamed of passed--women priests, contraception and abortion approved, homosexual relations approved, and so forth. It will never happen. There have been weak popes and sinful popes, but in 2,000 years not even the most sinful of them have done anything of that kind.

Many of the liberals who so eagerly anticipated the Pope's death a decade ago are now dead themselves. God will take this Pope to Himself when it is time.

[Palladin]

...the Cardinals are packing their bags.

[Moonman62]

However, Navarro-Valls' statement made no reference to pneumonia, saying the pope suffered a narrowing of his larynx.

It's believed that George Washington died from the same thing. Supposedly he refused a tracheotomy, which was a new procedure at the time.

[Aliska]

I wish him well and am sorry he has to suffer so. I hope he recovers and can remain with us for awhile.

I don't care to feed into the speculations and other things. What will be will be. Some people on the net are saying such cruel things about him, it kind of blows me away.

I've been disappointed about some things done during his pontificate, but overall, he is a good man and has fought the good fight.