POPE JOHN PAUL EXPECTED TO RETURN TO VATICAN TODAY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 10, 2005 (VIS) - This morning the director of the Holy See Press Office, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, released the following statement to journalists with regard to Pope John Paul's health:

  "The acute laryngeal tracheitis that was the reason for urgently admitting the Holy Father to the hospital has healed.

  "The improvement of his general conditions continues favorably.

  "Over the last two days, all diagnostic exams, including a CAT scan, excluded other pathologies.

  "It is expected that the Holy Father's return to the Vatican will take place today."

  Navarro-Valls continued:

  "The Pope has decided to send a letter of thanks to all the people who have taken care of him these days: doctors, sisters, nurses, technicians and aides.

  "I would especially like to mention Dr. Rodolfo Proietti,  professor of anesthesiology and reanimation and director of the Emergency and Admittance Department who coordinated the medical team, assisted by Doctors Massimo Antonelli, Gaetano Paludetti, professor of otorhinolaryngology and Filippo Crea, professor of cardiology."
OP/POPE:HEALTH/NAVARRO-VALLS                VIS 20050210 (180)