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.
Aside from April 2, being First Saturday,
there's the stupid April 1, day's stuff.
Now, I'm clock watching.
Dear Lord.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee,
blessed are thou among women,
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death, Amen.
Do you have TV access? I'm stuck at work.
EWTN has been showing a child's program about Fatima...thinking about Fatima as the Pope of the Fatima message is passing into eternity is almost eerie...or blessed, I am not sure which...
I'm listening to talk radio--they are featuring prominent people discussing their memories of the Pope.
I don't know if this was done already, but given that this Pope has touched people all over the world, no matter what their religion, I was thinking it might be interesting to post any personal experiences/reflections of why this Pope made a difference in your life, why you will miss him.
I remember the massive crowds in Grant Park when the Pope came to Chicago, although I was a child and that's about all I remember.
But In 1994, I believe, the Pope came to Denver for World Youth Day. His helicopter was to land at Regis University, a Jesuit university, just blocks away from our house in North Denver. When we heard the news, we raced over to the Regis grounds--a large crowd had gathered within minutes. People were praying and beaming for joy.
Finally, the helicopter appeared and everyone gasped. Then after it landed, the Pope got out, noticed us, waved and made the Sign of the Cross as if in a blessing.
It was almost as if a physical "something" passed through the crowd. Many began to cry. I know I felt a chill and an amazing sense that we were in the presence of a truly holy person.
For days, the entire city was united around the Pope. Thousands of young people walked for miles in the hot Denver sun to hear him (many were stricken with dehydration). To see the unwavering faith of so many young people from all over the world was truly inspiring.
What a strong willed person this Pope is even in his last hours.
Wow, Squantos that must have been very exciting! Are you watching right now?
Oh....yeah. That makes sense.
Thank you.
I wear a Rosary ring.
I've been reciting the Rosary most of the day.
Amen. O Lord, if I am to die lucid, let me take his example to heart, and come meet you with prayers on my lips.
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy;
hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve:
to thee do we sign, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us and,
after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee,
blessed art thou among women
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God,
pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death Amen
I am reporting from watchinig CNN TV (believe it or not) because they have the best reporters in St. Peter's Square and have been giving the most news. The Vatican Press Office is staying open all night which they have never done before.
He is rallying. It doesn't seem possible, and maybe I'm wrong, but that is what I pray for.
I'm one of those rosary junkies...Have dozens of them...mostly cheap plastic ones, cause I don't want to ever be without one...but I always wear a rosary ring; it's my emergency backup...
That is a wonderful sign of hope. People can be respectful during solemn occasions.
Earlier today a priest read the prayer said when someone was dying. It was beautiful and dated back to the 8th century. Do you have a copy of that -- I wouldn't even know where to start to look.
Thank you for your updates.
Any word on when the Vatican is supposed to speak again? I heard everyone was waiting for a statement.
What a strong willed person this Pope is even in his last hours.
I think it's called complete faith.
I truly believe our Holy Father is waiting for God to call him home.
He'll not leave us one second sooner.
Pope John Paul IMO has decided he will leave this Earth when he is ready. I believe he that strong willed and why so many people love this man from all walks of life, from every religion, and from every Country.
It is now the 2nd of April in Rome.
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.