POPE John Paul II was recovering last week from respiratory problems that landed him in hospital and raised new concerns about the state of his health.
The Pope emerged from his hospital bed on February 6 to deliver a brief blessing to the faithful, but doctors were keeping him in hospital for a few more days as a precaution.
The Pope was rushed to hospital on February 1 after he had trouble breathing.
Doctors at Gemelli Hospital in Rome 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.
Although the Pope’s respiratory condition continued to improve and his fever was gone, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said on February 7 that the Pope would remain in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for “prudential reasons” at least until February 10.
Mr 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 gave the February 6 blessing 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.
When the Pope pronounced the blessing, however, it was in a feeble and hoarse voice that could barely be heard.
Instead, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, an assistant secretary of state, read the talk for him.
The papal text expressed thanks to the doctors and hospital staff and to the thousands who have sent their get-well wishes from all over the world.
