http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=625328
Tense wait inside the Vatican as the Pope is 'read the last rites' By Peter Popham in Rome 01 April 2005 The Pope was last night given the last rites, Italian media reported, after a dramatic worsening of his health. The Vatican declined to confirm the reports, but a statement said Pope John Paul II, 84, was suffering from a very high fever after contracting an infection of the urinary tract. It was also reported that he had experienced a steep drop in his blood pressure. The Vatican added that "an appropriate antibiotic therapy has begun" and that "the clinical situation is being closely watched by the Vatican medical team treating him". The Pope has been suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than a decade. The present crisis dates back to 1 February when he was hospitalised with flu. He was discharged 10 days later but soon re-admitted after suffering a relapse. In hospital he underwent a tracheotomy, having a tube inserted into his throat to help him to breathe. Since then he has only uttered a few words in public, and on his most recent appearances, apparently wracked by pain, he tried to speak but failed to produce intelligible words. After another agonised appearance at his apartment window above St Peter's on Wednesday, the Vatican announced that he would now be fed by a tube through his nose. There was also talk of a possible permanent feeding tube directly into his stomach - an operation that would require the Pope's return to hospital. All such speculation was put on hold last night, however, as the Pope's health took what to many observers appeared to be a critical - and perhaps final - turn for the worse. Senior cardinals and others high up in the Vatican were yesterday preparing the world's one billion Roman Catholics for the worst. Cardinal Schönborn of Vienna, once considered a strong candidate to be the next pope, said that John Paul II was "approaching, as far as a person can tell, the end of his life". A priest working inside the Vatican told Reuters news agency: "We are on stand-by for anything. Hardly anyone thinks the situation will improve, but everyone is hoping for a miracle." __________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger Show us what our next emoticon should look like. Join the fun. http://www.advision.webevents.yahoo.com/emoticontest ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Would you Help a Child in need? It is easier than you think. Click Here to meet a Child you can help. http://us.click.yahoo.com/0Z9NuA/I_qJAA/i1hLAA/wpWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> "[M]y ministry is that of servus servorum Dei." --Pope John Paul II (Ut Unum Sint, no. 88) "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." --Matthew 16:18 Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pope-John-Paul-II/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/