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.
This is exactly what is happening. I am amazed at the people being interviewed including this Rabbi. I am getting nothing done today except watching TV and have learned so much.
CNN reported that shortly after I turned on the TV this morning and their medical expert has been giving details of what this all means as the day as has progressed. Their medical expert has explained everything in terms a layman can understand.
That would be very painful. I hope that they are still treating him with antibiotics, if only in hope.
I remember well watching the for the color of the smoke when the last two Popes were chosen
Life has been chaotic and I had just lost a younger borther less than three weeks earlier. I was also recovering from a recent hysterectomy, so it went right by me.
Kate
-Eric
I don't see why not. The first several popes after Peter seem to have used their given names--Linus and Cletus and Clement and so on. The first pope I am aware of who adopted a new name for his papacy was John II in 533:
The Vatican is reporting that there is no hope for the Pope.
I am sooo sorry to hear of your loss. I lost a sister on Easter Sunday, my mother on Christmas and a younger brother on my birthday. Easter week is pretty down for me and the events this week make it even harder.
St. Patrick's in NYC is beautiful and there is no room for dancing!
very cool!
latin spoken with an italian accent i guess. doesn't sound like the latin i hear at our church ; )
I'm watching EWTN for accurate news.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Well, they said he was dead earlier this afternoon
There is a parallel. The Pope prayed for Terri's life. It ended. She was catholic. The world prayed for her to live. She didn't. They are praying for the Pope in the thros of death. She was murdered, He had every help on earth to live. She had nothing. God knows.Will we ever wake up? No, its too late.
Probably because the Lord changed Simon's name to Peter.
I remember vaguely sitting in a Catholic school when they announced something...Since it was back-to-back John Pauls, I can't remember if it was the death of Pope Paul VI or John Paul I or the new Pope (either JP I or II) or any combination of the above.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.