Pope back to hospital
Feb 24, 2005
VATICAN CITY, Thursday - Pope John Paul II was taken back to the Gemelli clinic in Rome early today after suffering a relapse of flu, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarrro-Valls announced, 14 days after the pontiff’s discharge from his previous stay there.
VATICAN CITY, Thursday - Pope John Paul II was taken back to the Gemelli clinic in Rome early today after suffering a relapse of flu, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarrro-Valls announced, 14 days after the pontiff’s discharge from his previous stay there.
Navarro-Valls said the 84-year-old pope suffered the relapse on Wednesday, but was not hospitalised until early Thursday.
“Yesterday afternoon, the Holy Father suffered a relapse of the flu that affected him in recent weeks. For that reason he has been hospitalised this morning at the Gemelli for specialised treatment and tests,†Navarro-Valls told Vatican correspondents.
Italy’s ANSA news agency reported that the pope had suffered a recurrence of the acute breathing difficulties which caused him to be rushed to hospital on February 1, though it gave no sources for the report.
In his native Poland, bishops are “crossing their fingers and praying†for him after the ageing pontiff was re-admitted, a spokesman for the episcopate said.
“The Pope has always had the strength to overcome all sorts of health problems. We are crossing our fingers and praying for him,†said Father Jozef Kloch on public radio.
Born Karol Wojtyla on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, near Krakow, he was ordained in 1946 at the age of 26 and went to Rome for advanced studies.
He became Poland’s youngest bishop at 38, was promoted to archbishop of Krakow in 1964 and made cardinal three years later by Pope Paul VI.
On October 16, 1978, Wojtyla was elected the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years. He was the 264th successor of St Peter and, at 58, the youngest Pope for more than a century. The pontiff will be 85 in May.
The Pope, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, was rushed to hospital on February 1 with acute breathing difficulties. He appeared in good health at St Peter’s Square last Sunday, where he drew applause from thousands of relieved pilgrims.
Navarro-Valls said the 84-year-old pope suffered the relapse on Wednesday, but was not hospitalised until early Thursday.
“Yesterday afternoon, the Holy Father suffered a relapse of the flu that affected him in recent weeks. For that reason he has been hospitalised this morning at the Gemelli for specialised treatment and tests,†Navarro-Valls told Vatican correspondents.
Italy’s ANSA news agency reported that the pope had suffered a recurrence of the acute breathing difficulties which caused him to be rushed to hospital on February 1, though it gave no sources for the report.
In his native Poland, bishops are “crossing their fingers and praying†for him after the ageing pontiff was re-admitted, a spokesman for the episcopate said.
“The Pope has always had the strength to overcome all sorts of health problems. We are crossing our fingers and praying for him,†said Father Jozef Kloch on public radio.
Born Karol Wojtyla on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, near Krakow, he was ordained in 1946 at the age of 26 and went to Rome for advanced studies.
He became Poland’s youngest bishop at 38, was promoted to archbishop of Krakow in 1964 and made cardinal three years later by Pope Paul VI.
On October 16, 1978, Wojtyla was elected the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years. He was the 264th successor of St Peter and, at 58, the youngest Pope for more than a century. The pontiff will be 85 in May.
The Pope, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, was rushed to hospital on February 1 with acute breathing difficulties. He appeared in good health at St Peter’s Square last Sunday, where he drew applause from thousands of relieved pilgrims.