Pope John Paul II, spiritual leader of the world’s 1 billion Catholics, is in “very serious” condition and has received the blessing for the dying after suffering heart failure and a high fever, weeks after surgery to relieve breathing problems.
The pope was “conscious” and “extremely serene,” said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls at a press conference in Rome. The 84-year-old pope yesterday received the blessing for those approaching death, Navarro-Valls said. His condition is stable, though “very serious,” after he suffered a “urinary tract infection, septic shock and a cardiocirculatory collapse,” Navarro-Valls said.
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The world’s cardinals, who will select John Paul II’s successor, have been summoned to Rome, a sign that preparations are under way for a conclave, the secretive election procedure that must begin within three weeks of the pope’s death.
– http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=a.RbRXoRh9zo&refer=europe
Pope John Paul II suffered heart failure and was in “very grave” condition Friday, but he was lucid and spent the morning celebrating Mass and receiving top aides, asking one to read him the biblical account of Christ’s Crucifixion and burial, the Vatican said.
– http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Pope/wireStory?id=632422
Septic shock, suffered this week by Pope John Paul II, involves both bacteria in the blood and a consequent over-relaxing of the blood vessels. The vessels, which are normally narrow and taut, get floppy in reaction to the bacteria and can’t sustain any pressure.
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“The chances of an elderly person in this condition with septic shock surviving 24 to 48 hours are slim — about 10-20%, but that would be in an intensive care unit with very aggressive treatment,” said Dr. Gianni Angelini, a professor of cardiac surgery at Bristol University in England.
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Eventually the heart fails, but unlike in heart failure, the problem does not start in the heart.
– http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-04-01-pope-experts_x.htm
Pray for the Holy Father, that God may aid him in his suffering.