Pope suffering 'breathing problems and flu'
Pope John Paul II, suffering from breathing problems and the flu, was rushed to the hospital last night, Vatican officials said.
Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls told The Associated Press that the decision to hospitalise the 84-year-old pontiff was “mainly a precaution”.
He pointed out that the Pope was not in intensive care but in the same 10th floor suite of rooms where he has been during several previous stays.
He said the pope has the flu and acute laryngeal tracheitis, acknowledging the pontiff had a “certain difficulty in breathing”.
The spokesman, who has a medical degree, denied Italian news reports that the pope had a CAT scan at the hospital.
Navarro-Valls said more tests will be done today.
The Vatican planned to issue a medical bulletin sometime after 9am (8am Irish time) today, the spokesman said.
