Post by IAMCAPER on Apr 2, 2005 6:52:50 GMT -4
VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul is slipping in and out of consciousness and his general condition remains extremely serious, the Vatican announced Saturday.
Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls told journalists the 84-year-old Pontiff, whose health began worsening late on Thursday, was not in a coma.
"As of this morning at dawn, we are noticing that his state of consciousness is compromised. This absolutely does not mean he is in a coma," Navarro-Valls said.
"When he speaks, his eyes are open and he remains conscious, but at times he seems to be sleeping ... Technically I would exclude a comatose state," Navarro-Valls said, adding that the Pope's overall condition remained "very serious."
The Vatican said Friday that John Paul's heart and kidneys were failing, his breathing was shallow and his blood pressure had fallen dangerously low. Senior churchmen said the Pope was close to death.
Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls told journalists the 84-year-old Pontiff, whose health began worsening late on Thursday, was not in a coma.
"As of this morning at dawn, we are noticing that his state of consciousness is compromised. This absolutely does not mean he is in a coma," Navarro-Valls said.
"When he speaks, his eyes are open and he remains conscious, but at times he seems to be sleeping ... Technically I would exclude a comatose state," Navarro-Valls said, adding that the Pope's overall condition remained "very serious."
The Vatican said Friday that John Paul's heart and kidneys were failing, his breathing was shallow and his blood pressure had fallen dangerously low. Senior churchmen said the Pope was close to death.