Pope receives last rites

**mazdamazda** · April 1st, 2005 12:56 PM

Pope 'very sick' but stable after last rites
April 01, 2005
Updated 09:01am (Mla time)

Agence France-Presse

VATICAN CITY -- (UPDATE) Pope John Paul II is "sick, very sick" and he has received the last rites as he battles a high fever, but the 84-year-old pontiff's condition appears to have stabilized, according to the Vatican and Italian news reports Friday.

"The Holy Father has been struck during the day by a high fever caused by an infection of the urinary tract," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a statement, revealing a startling deterioration in the pontiff's condition.

Italian television stations said the pope had been given the last rites, which are administered by a clergyman to Catholics to give comfort as they approach death. There was no confirmation of the reports.

He is "sick, very sick," doctors told the ANSA news agency.

The pope was too weak even to be raced to hospital, Vatican sources were quoted as telling Sky Italia television.

Daily La Repubblica, however, reported Friday that it was the pope who insisted in remaining at the Vatican.

"It was the last wish of Pope John Paul II: to not die ... in the entrance hall of a hospital, but to end his days in dignity as a Roman pontiff, in his room overlooking St. Peter's," Repubblica wrote.

Vatican radio said the Polish-born pope's condition was stabilizing after treatment.

"The pontiff seems to be reacting well to the antibiotics that he has been administered, and, at the very end of the evening, his condition appears to have stabilized," the official radio of the Vatican said in a report posted on its website.

The Polish news agency KAI, quoting sources in the innermost papal circle, said "the pope was not in a critical condition."

But Italian Cardinal Achille Silvestrini underlined that the announcement of the Vatican -- which usually refrains from making alarming statements -- "means that there is really a lot of fear and that maybe they want us to understand to prepare for the worst."

As news of the pope's crisis spread, hundreds of followers gathered near the Vatican, some praying, some crying.

Authorities had sealed off St. Peter's square but the faithful filled the surrounding streets.

"I am scared that that's it ... maybe he's dead, maybe he's dying," said Jennifer Cole of Los Angeles in tears. "It doesn't matter if he's already dead, I wanted to be here anyway."

A group of eight youths prayer in silence, while a man knelt under the powerful lights of dozens of television crews reporting on the pope's condition.

In an ominous sign, the lights of the pope's apartment were turned on and later switched off and only the lights of the papal infirmary were on early Friday.

Italian newspapers were filled with gloom.

"The pope is dying" headlined daily Il Giornale. Libero daily wrote: "The pope can't make it anymore."

On Thursday, a Vatican source said the pope had lost 19 kilograms (42 pounds) in five weeks and there was great concern over his chances of recovery after undergoing an operation to insert a breathing tube into his windpipe February 24. The pope also suffers from Parkinson's disease.

Sky Italia quoted Vatican sources as saying doctors were "fighting to get him out of a spiral of worsening conditions," adding that there were fears he had septicemia or blood poisoning.

The Vatican admitted Wednesday that John Paul II's recovery from a throat operation was "slow" and that doctors had to insert a nasal tube to feed him.

Daily Il Messaggero reported that the pope was having trouble with the nasal tube, which was cutting his esophagus, and may have to be operated on to place another tube directly to his stomach.

The sickness of the pope, who appeared visibly thinner and frail in his appearance at his window on Wednesday, has raised concerns of a power vacuum at the top of the Church.

Some observers have reported that the close circle of cardinals around the pope have made "a pact" to maintain the status quo as uncertainty over his health continues.

A key Vatican insider, Vittorio Messori, said Thursday the pope would not step down "whatever happens, whatever the evolution of John Paul II's illnesses."

**cutedoc** · April 1st, 2005 11:51 PM

iof its gods will to have pope be at his hand then let it be, pray ko is for the pope healing, not cure, i know there are a lot of people praying for the pope to live pa, pero kung nahihirapan na siya kung mabuhay man siya i dont see the use of it, tska god has his way if hell still let the pope live then maybe there would be a reason why=)peace

**ts1n1ta** · April 1st, 2005 11:57 PM

The Pope is very old na nga... Anyway, the vatican actually asked each and every one of us to pray one our father a day offered to the Pope and for the world.

**mikaztro** · April 2nd, 2005 01:01 AM

God Bless us all and the Santo Papa.

April 24 is a bad sign. I dunno why.

**OTEP** · April 2nd, 2005 01:07 AM

JP II has served his term well. If the Lord will him to rest then so it shall be.

**odell** · April 2nd, 2005 01:24 AM

may tubo narin pala sa loob niya to remove the hard feeling while he is breathing

**Bogeyman** · April 2nd, 2005 01:29 AM

He's lived a full life, and served his purpose on Earth well beyond what was expected of him. I'm just praying him to make the transition peacefully, and that his successor will carry on his legacy.