- Title: ITALY/VATICAN: POPE JOHN PAUL HOSPITALISED WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS
- Date: 2nd February 2005
- Summary: (BN6) VATICAN CITY, VATICAN (FEBRUARY 2, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. SLV/SV/PAN OF ST.PETERS SQUARE AS DAWN BREAKS (3 SHOTS) 0.24 2. SV/CU WINDOW OF POPES PRIVATE APARTMENT (2 SHOTS) 0.35 3. SLV VARIOUS VATICAN (3 SHOTS) 0.48 (W2) ROME, ITALY (FEBRUARY 2, 2005) (REUTERS) 4. SLV EXTERIORS OF HOSPITAL 0.52 5. SLV/SV/MCU SECURITY OUTSIDE HOSPITAL (4 SHOTS) 1.14 6. SV INTERIORS OF HOSPITAL, JOURNALISTS (2 SHOTS) 1.41 7. SLV/MCU JOURNALISTS OUTSIDE HOSPITAL (2 SHOTS) 1.52 8. CLOSE OF HOSPITAL WINDOWS 1.58 9. CU OF CAMERA AIMED AT HOSPITAL 2.04 10. SLV OFFICIALS ON BALCONY 2.10 (BN6) ROME, ITALY 11. CU VARIOUS NEWSPAPER HEADLINES (4 SHOTS) 2.29 12. MCU (Italian) DANIELLA FABRUZZI ON WAY TO WORK, SAYING: "He's such a great man, he's done so much. I hope this work continues if there has to be a new Pope." 2.46 13. MCU (Italian) CINZIA ZULLI ON WAY TO WORK SAYING: "I'm really sorry about the whole thing, he is a greatly loved person. I'll pray for him." 2.58 14. SLV PEOPLE ON WAY TO WORK 3.03 15. MCU (Italian) PATRIZIA ZANABONI ON WAY TO WORK, SAYING: "I was really sorry, so sorry when I heard the news this morning." 3.29 16. LV OF STREET SCENE 3.36 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 17th February 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ROME, ITALY / VATICAN CITY, VATICAN
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVACKCGZTMSXIGQGWL6PMXLVPG1F
- Story Text: Frail Pope hospitalised with breathing problems but
Vatican sources say the pontiff is "quite well" and spent a
peaceful night.
Pope John Paul is "quite well" and spent a peaceful
night in hospital, Ansa news agency said on Wednesday
(February 2), quoting an unnamed Vatican source.
The 84-year-old Pope was rushed to hospital with
breathing difficulties late Tuesday after a bout of
influenza suddenly worsened. Doctors are due to release a
medical bulletin on his health at around 9:00 a.m. (0800
GMT).
The frail leader of the Roman Catholic Church, who is
also afflicted by Parkinson's disease, is being cared for
at the Gemelli hospital and Vatican officials appear keen
not to be alarmist about his illness.
The chief papal spokesman has said in a statement that
his condition did not warrant him being placed in an
intensive care unit and an official said his transfer to
hospital was a "precautionary measure".
The Pope came down with the flu on Sunday and on
Tuesday suffered an acute attack of laryngospasm, a
blockage of air to the lungs that medical experts said was
very rarely fatal.
The Polish Pontiff has been treated at least six times
in the Gemelli during his 26-year papacy, and has his own
suite on the 10th floor of the hospital on the outskirts of
Rome.
Medical experts said acute laryngospasm was very rarely
fatal, but cautioned that the Pope's age and medical
history complicated matters.
The Pope has occasionally had difficultly breathing
since he developed Parkinson's a decade ago, a disorder of
the central nervous system which can affect chest muscle
activity. The flu apparently complicated his condition.
The sudden worsening of his health again raised fears
that one of the most remarkable papacies might be drawing
to a close.
The Pope left his mark on the world like few others in
the 20th century, playing a leading role in the fall of
communism in Eastern Europe in 1989 and also working
tirelessly to revolutionise relations with other religions.
While nearly all of the world's one billion Catholics
cheered his defence of human rights, he drew criticism from
within his own flock for his unbending stance against
contraception, gay marriages and women priests.
As day dawned in Rome, the world's media had gathered
outside the Gemelli hospital, flanked by dozens of police
brought in to keep roads and gates to the hospital clear.
All of the Italian newspapers ran the story of the
Pope's health on their front pages as an outpouring of
concern for the leader of the world's Roman Catholics
swelled up in the country.
"He's such a great man, he's done so much. I hope this
work continues if there has to be a new Pope," said
Daniella Fabruzzi on her way to work.
"I'm really sorry about the whole thing, he is a
greatly loved person. I'll pray for him," said Cinzia
Zulli, another woman on her way to work.
"I was really sorry, so sorry when I heard the news
this morning," said Patrizia Zanaboni.
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