Like plenty of Romans, pope comes down with flu

Published: 2005-01-31

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Like thousands of people in Italy's Lazio region, which includes Rome, Pope John Paul II came down with the flu in late January. "Because of an influenza syndrome, which began yesterday, the Holy Father was advised to suspend the audiences planned for today," said Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the Vatican spokesman, in a Jan. 31 statement. Lazio health officials estimated 1 percent of all Romans were in bed with the flu Jan. 28 and they predicted the number of sick citizens would peak Jan. 31. During his Jan. 30 Sunday Angelus address, the pope's voice was hoarse, but it did not stop him from greeting visitors in St. Peter's Square. And, as uncooperative doves flew in and out of his apartment window, the pope shared a laugh with two schoolchildren during an annual appeal for peace.

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