Pope John Paul II's illness.Rome -- Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan Paweł II) born Karol Józef Wojtyła was hospitalized February 1, 2005 after suffering respiratory problems aggravated by the flu. After a ten-day hospital stay he returned home but was re-admitted to Gemelli Polyclinic polyclinic /poly·clin·ic/ (-klin´ik) a hospital and school where diseases and injuries of all kinds are studied and treated. pol·y·clin·ic n. Hospital in Rome February 24, 2005 with breathing difficulties. A tracheotomy tracheotomy (trākēŏt`əmē), surgical incision into the trachea, or windpipe. The operation is performed when the windpipe has become blocked, e.g., by the presence of some foreign object or by swelling of the larynx. was performed. Surgeons cut a small hole in the Pope's throat and inserted a tube to assist his breathing. Joaquin Navarro Valls Doctor Joaquín Navarro Valls, M.D., (born November 16, 1936, Cartagena, Spain) was the Director of the Holy See (Vatican) Press Office, taking the post in 1984. His role as the press liaison between the Vatican and the world press corps gave him perhaps the highest visibility of , Vatican spokesman, indicated February 27, 2005, that the Pope is recovering normally from his surgery. He is eating and breathing on his own, but will not be able to speak for some time. By March 2 the pope had recovered some ability to speak. John Paul II John Paul II, 1920–2005, pope (1978–2005), a Pole (b. Wadowice) named Karol Józef Wojtyła; successor of John Paul I. He was the first non-Italian pope elected since the Dutch Adrian VI (1522–23) and the first Polish and Slavic pope. , 84, has experienced numerous challenges to his health including gunshot wounds, surgeries and Parkinson's disease. During his latest period of suffering, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute of the Vatican Secretariat of State read the address prepared by John Paul II, February 27, 2005. The Holy Father asked for continued support through prayer and thanked all those praying for him. He renewed his devotion to Mary, mother of the Church: "Totus tuus!" For those who question the Pope's ability to continue to guide the Catholic Church, the retired prefect prefect or praefect (both: prē`fĕkt), in ancient Rome, various military and civil officers. Under the empire some prefects were very important. The Praetorian prefects (first appointed 2 B.C. of the Apostolic Signature, Cardinal Mario Francesco Pompedda said that even if the Pope could not speak, "[with] regard to the exercise of power, of the ministry, which is an exercise in jurisdiction, ... it is not necessary to be able to speak.... it is sufficient that the Pope express his will and that he do so in a clear manner. He can express his will perfectly in writing, or he can also express it in obvious and significant gestures." Let us continue to pray for John Paul II and trust in the Holy Spirit's comfort and wisdom to protect and guide the Church. (Various sources) |
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