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.
How you are seeing a circus atmosphere is beyond me. I see thousands of people praying for the pope. With respect and reverence.
The Vicar said that when he was doing the rosary in St. Peter's. Why he said it, I have no idea. There really isn't a circus atmosphere -- it has been very respectful all day.
I just checked in at MSNBC. They're not doing too badly right now. They're listening in to various services worldwide, for example, Chicago, St. Pat's in NYC, and a live camera at the Vatican. The commentary is from the girl who used to be on MTV. I can't think of her name. No guests that I've seen. Luckily, apparently Ron Reagan Jr.'s show has been pre-empted. Thank goodness for small favors.
The circus hasn't started. People are being respectful. When the conclave gathers, it will be circus time...with endless talking heads spouting off stuff they can't know, I suspect. I suspect they are all going over their list of who THEY think are candidates...getting ready to drive us all to distraction.
The statement released from the Vicar said "This evening Christ opens the door to this Pope."
I couldn't take him right now that's for sure. One of the funnier things was to see the Cardinal in Baltimore start to speak and then have all the bells start ringing and he couldn't be heard and then starts chuckling.
(grin) The theme at St. Patrick's was "what do I say?" What does anyone say? They cut away before I heard his answer.
I just don't see a circus atmosphere.....maybe I don't know what that means.
Yep. Expect to hear a LOT more of that...
Linda Vester is doing a good job covering this for FoxNews now. She had a guest on about an hour ago that told a story of a woman that said she'd been given some tea and bread by a young Polish priest who then carried her on his back to some location where Holocaust or concentration camp survivors were meeting (I didn't hear the details clearly except for the carrying on his back part).
Vester then said that since the Pope had himself been harassed or even arrested by the Germans or Polish Secret Police(again my poor hearing of the segment), he certainly knew what totalitarianism was all about.
Interesting story I'd never heard before.
I haven't seen a circus atmosphere all day -- I thought the coverage has been respectful, sometimes really humorous when priests relate their stories about the Pope, and very thoughtful.
To me it is absolutely plain weird that they would say that and this isn't a good time to engage in weirdness. But, enough already from me about it.
No, The Vicar will let us know when he passes.
There are so many stories today that I have never heard and most of them are really touching.
I loved the one about eating Rum Cake from a non-drinker! And the stories about the pope with children.
The Rum Cake was my favorite -- that was hilarious. A short time ago they were talking with a priest who was relating the last time someone he knew saw the Pope he told the Pope this would probably be the last time he would see the Pope and the Pope asked -- "Are you sick?"
BTW, your tagline is very funny. I almost spewed water all over my screen. ;-)
"No, The Vicar will let us know when he passes."
But this is what I said is weird and I object to:
(From post 806)
"Christine Amanpour is saying that the Vicar has said that this night the Pope will surrender himself to the Almighty."
I guess we can still reason thta the Almighty doesn't have to take him! And hasn't the pope always been surrendering himself to the Almighty" His motto remember?? I'm not convinced. The statment is extraordingary.
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