Weakened pope pronounces blessing; hospital stay prolonged

Published: 2005-02-07

ROME (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II felt well enough to deliver a brief blessing to the faithful, but doctors were keeping the pontiff in the hospital for a few more days as a precaution. Although the pope's respiratory condition continued to improve and his fever was gone, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Feb. 7 that the pope would remain in Rome's Gemelli Hospital for "prudential reasons" at least until Feb. 10. Navarro-Valls said the pope was eating regularly, sitting in a chair several hours a day and reading some of the hundreds of get-well messages and letters that have poured into the hospital. The pope was also glancing at the daily newspapers. According to the papal spokesman, the pope said he was doing so "in order to follow the progress of my illness." The pope was rushed to the hospital Feb. 1 after he had trouble breathing. Doctors at Gemelli diagnosed an "acute laryngeal tracheitis," or swelling in the throat, with "laryngeal spasms," which cut off the air supply. The Vatican said the spasms had not recurred. On Feb. 6, the pope pronounced a Sunday blessing in a weak voice from his hospital window and waved to well-wishers. The 10-minute appearance offered the first public glimpse of the 84-year-old pontiff in a week. The pope looked alert throughout the event, and several times he raised his hand in greeting. That was enough to buoy many of the people who gathered on the hospital grounds and others who watched on giant video screens in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. When the pope pronounced the blessing, however, it was in a feeble and hoarse voice that could barely be heard.

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