VATICAN CITY, APR 1, 2005 (VIS) - Last evening at 10.15 p.m., Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following declaration to journalists:
"The Holy Father today developed a high fever caused by a urinary tract infection.
"Appropriate antibiotic therapy was begun.
"His clinical condition is being closely monitored by the Vatican medical team that is caring for him."
At 6.30 a.m. today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released another declaration:
"This morning the Holy Father's health conditions are very serious.
"Yesterday afternoon, March 31, as already announced, following a confirmed infection of the urinary tract, septic shock set in with cardio-circulatory collapse.
"The Holy Father was immediately assisted by the medical team on watch in his private apartments.
"All appropriate therapeutic and cardio-respiratory measures were activated.
"The Holy Father's wish to remain in his private apartments was respected, where in any case complete and efficient health care can be guaranteed.
"Late yesterday afternoon, the clinical situation stabilized temporarily, but in later hours it developed negatively.
"The situation of the Holy Father is being monitored and watched.
"The Holy Father is conscious, lucid and serene. Yesterday at 7.17 p.m. he received the Viaticum.
"At 6 a.m. today he concelebrated Mass.
"The Cardinal Secretary of State and the Holy Father's closest collaborators, united with him in prayer, are following the development of the clinical condition of His Holiness.
"The Pope is being assisted by his personal physician Dr. Renato Buzzonetti, by two specialists in reanimation, by a cardiologist, by an otorhinolaryngologist, and by two nurses."
At the start of his press briefing today at 12:30 p.m., Navarro-Valls repeated the previous two bulletins on the Pope's health, adding some new details and answering only a couple of questions. He did announce, however, that the Holy See Press Office would remain open throughout the night.
He said that, "from the very first moment, the Holy Father was informed of the seriousness of the situation and decided to remain in his own apartment in the Vatican where, furthermore, complete and competent medical assistance is guaranteed. Late yesterday afternoon there was a temporary stabilization of his condition which then, in successive hours, evolved negatively.
"The Holy Father's situation is carefully monitored. The Holy Father is conscious. At 7:17 last evening he received holy Viaticum. At 6 this morning he wished to concelebrate Mass, naturally from his bed. The Pope, as you know, is assisted by his personal physician, Dr. Renato Buzzonetti, by two specialists in reanimation, by a cardiologist, by an otorhinolaryngologist, and by two nurses.
Navarro-Valls, himself a medical doctor, repeated that "the Pope is always conscious. This morning at 6 he celebrated Mass. About 7:15, realizing that today is Friday, a day in which he traditionally follows the Stations of the Cross, he asked that the 14 stations be read to him. He followed attentively the reading of the texts and made the sign of the cross at every station.
"After finishing the stations, he said he wished to recite the Liturgy of Hours and asked specifically that the Third Hour be read to him.
"I saw that this morning he received several of his collaborators: Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State; Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the dean of the College of Cardinals, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, secretary for Relations with States, and Archbishop Paolo Sardi, vice chamberlain (camerlengo ).
"The situation now is stationary. The conditions of notable seriousness remain.
"The biological parameters are unsettled. His blood pressure is unstable.
"The Pope continues to remain lucid, fully aware and, I must say, very serene.
"Several minutes ago he asked that some passages from Sacred Scriptures be read to him, and he attentively following this reading."
Responding to a journalist's question, Navarro-Valls said that "the Holy Father, when informed of the reality of the situation, asked if it was strictly necessary to return to the hospital and he was assured that complete medical care could be guaranteed in the Vatican."
Asked about his own personal reaction to events, Navarro-Valls said he was sure "there is no interest in my feelings at this time. However, this is an image that you have never seen here," adding: "The Pope is lucid and extraordinarily serene."
OP/POPE:HEALTH/NAVARRO-VALLS VIS 20050401 (720)
"The Holy Father today developed a high fever caused by a urinary tract infection.
"Appropriate antibiotic therapy was begun.
"His clinical condition is being closely monitored by the Vatican medical team that is caring for him."
At 6.30 a.m. today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released another declaration:
"This morning the Holy Father's health conditions are very serious.
"Yesterday afternoon, March 31, as already announced, following a confirmed infection of the urinary tract, septic shock set in with cardio-circulatory collapse.
"The Holy Father was immediately assisted by the medical team on watch in his private apartments.
"All appropriate therapeutic and cardio-respiratory measures were activated.
"The Holy Father's wish to remain in his private apartments was respected, where in any case complete and efficient health care can be guaranteed.
"Late yesterday afternoon, the clinical situation stabilized temporarily, but in later hours it developed negatively.
"The situation of the Holy Father is being monitored and watched.
"The Holy Father is conscious, lucid and serene. Yesterday at 7.17 p.m. he received the Viaticum.
"At 6 a.m. today he concelebrated Mass.
"The Cardinal Secretary of State and the Holy Father's closest collaborators, united with him in prayer, are following the development of the clinical condition of His Holiness.
"The Pope is being assisted by his personal physician Dr. Renato Buzzonetti, by two specialists in reanimation, by a cardiologist, by an otorhinolaryngologist, and by two nurses."
At the start of his press briefing today at 12:30 p.m., Navarro-Valls repeated the previous two bulletins on the Pope's health, adding some new details and answering only a couple of questions. He did announce, however, that the Holy See Press Office would remain open throughout the night.
He said that, "from the very first moment, the Holy Father was informed of the seriousness of the situation and decided to remain in his own apartment in the Vatican where, furthermore, complete and competent medical assistance is guaranteed. Late yesterday afternoon there was a temporary stabilization of his condition which then, in successive hours, evolved negatively.
"The Holy Father's situation is carefully monitored. The Holy Father is conscious. At 7:17 last evening he received holy Viaticum. At 6 this morning he wished to concelebrate Mass, naturally from his bed. The Pope, as you know, is assisted by his personal physician, Dr. Renato Buzzonetti, by two specialists in reanimation, by a cardiologist, by an otorhinolaryngologist, and by two nurses.
Navarro-Valls, himself a medical doctor, repeated that "the Pope is always conscious. This morning at 6 he celebrated Mass. About 7:15, realizing that today is Friday, a day in which he traditionally follows the Stations of the Cross, he asked that the 14 stations be read to him. He followed attentively the reading of the texts and made the sign of the cross at every station.
"After finishing the stations, he said he wished to recite the Liturgy of Hours and asked specifically that the Third Hour be read to him.
"I saw that this morning he received several of his collaborators: Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State; Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the dean of the College of Cardinals, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, secretary for Relations with States, and Archbishop Paolo Sardi, vice chamberlain (camerlengo ).
"The situation now is stationary. The conditions of notable seriousness remain.
"The biological parameters are unsettled. His blood pressure is unstable.
"The Pope continues to remain lucid, fully aware and, I must say, very serene.
"Several minutes ago he asked that some passages from Sacred Scriptures be read to him, and he attentively following this reading."
Responding to a journalist's question, Navarro-Valls said that "the Holy Father, when informed of the reality of the situation, asked if it was strictly necessary to return to the hospital and he was assured that complete medical care could be guaranteed in the Vatican."
Asked about his own personal reaction to events, Navarro-Valls said he was sure "there is no interest in my feelings at this time. However, this is an image that you have never seen here," adding: "The Pope is lucid and extraordinarily serene."
OP/POPE:HEALTH/NAVARRO-VALLS VIS 20050401 (720)
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