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| Europe |
| Pope Hospitalized With Breathing Problems |
| 2005-02-02 |
| Edited for actual news Pope John Paul II was rushed to the hospital Tuesday night after he suffered inflammation of the throat and had difficulty breathing while battling the flu, the Vatican said. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls told The Associated Press that the decision to hospitalize the 84-year-old pontiff was "mainly a precaution." The spokesman, who has a medical degree, denied Italian news reports that the pope had a CAT scan at the hospital. Navarro-Valls said more tests will be done on Wednesday. The Vatican planned to issue a medical bulletin on Wednesday morning sometime after 9 a.m. (3 a.m. EST), the spokesman said. The Vatican said in an earlier statement that the pope suffered from "an acute laryngeal tracheitis and larynx spasm crisis." Tracheitis, an inflammation of the trachea, requires hospitalization and usually a breathing tube to keep the airway clear. The spasms are likely a complication from the respiratory illness he's had. It's possible his Parkinson's disease has made his condition more serious and his breathing more labored. A close member of the pope's staff, American Archbishop James Harvey, said the pope had congestion and a slight fever during the day. The frail pontiff has Parkinson's disease, which makes his speech difficult, as well as chronic hip and knee problems. He was last seen in public on Sunday, when he made his regular noontime appearance at his window overlooking St. Peter's Square and released a dove in a sign of peace. He appeared remarkably lively, but his words were barely audible. The Vatican announced earlier Tuesday that it had canceled the pope's engagements for the next few days. The canceled appointments included John Paul's weekly public audience Wednesday. The flu has been sweeping through Italy since December. The Rome region, which is shivering through a cold spell that has dropped temperatures below freezing at night, has been among those hit the hardest. Vatican Radio asked Navarro-Valls earlier Tuesday if the pope felt the good wishes of people worldwide who are concerned about his health. "I think so, and as always, the Holy Father is grateful for the prayers of the faithful and of all those who love him. I think this closeness means a lot to him," Navarro-Valls said. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #3 I was thinking the same thing, Chuck. It had to have been a major illness for him to have to go to the hospital. The Vat has a first class medical facility in house for sure. |
| Posted by: Chris W. 2005-02-02 1:06:28 PM |
| #2 This pope does. He is housed in the same suite that he used when he was shot by that Turkish idiot. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-02-02 11:51:02 AM |
| #1 An oddity. Popes don't go to the hospital. In the past the Vatican had all the toys for medical treatment of the Pope. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2005-02-02 11:02:55 AM |