Pope Recovering, Undergoing Speech Therapy

The Vatican released a statement earlier today indicating that the Pope is recovering without complications, but will remain in the hospital indefinitely to undergo speech and breathing therapy. According to the Associated Press via ABC News:

"The Holy Father's postoperative phase is taking place without complications. His general condition and biological parameters continue to be good," the Vatican communique said. "The Holy Father is eating regularly, spends some hours in an armchair and has begun exercises to rehabilitate breathing and phonation."

The therapy is aimed at improving the pope's breathing and ability to speak after last week's surgery to insert a tube in his throat to ease his second respiratory crisis in less than a month.

Read more: Vatican Says Pope Is Recovering Well

Pope Makes Appearance from Hospital Window

Pope John Paul II made a surprise appearance from his hospital window today, waving to the faithful right after a Vatican official read a statement from the pontiff on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica asking for prayers. From AP (via Yahoo News):

The 84-year-old pope was wheeled to a hospital window and blessed the crowd by making the sign of the cross in clear gestures as a Vatican photographer snapped pictures. John Paul, recovering from a throat operation to ease a breathing crisis, touched his throat during the minute-long appearance but seemed to be in decent form.

Read more: Pope Makes Surprise Appearance at Window

Pope Breathing On His Own

After spending one night in the hospital following a tracheostomy procedure to aid his breathing, the Pope seems to be recovering and is now breathing on his own. He will still be unable to speak for a few days. According to the Los Angeles Times via KTLA, Los Angeles:

The half-hour surgery, in which doctors inserted a tube through a small hole cut in the pope's neck to ease his respiratory crisis, was termed a success by a Vatican official. The pontiff was recovering in a 10th-floor suite of hospital rooms. [...]

Gianni Letta, a top aide to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, visited the pope late Thursday after the surgery and said he was "reassured" about John Paul's condition. He said the pope managed a weak wave but could not speak.

Read more: Pope Breathing on His Own Following Surgery

Pope's Tracheotomy Operation a Success!

The Pope had an operation today to insert a tube in his throat to help him breathe. The Vatican said the tracheotomy was a success: "The Holy Father is fine and will spend the night in his regular hospital room." According to Knight Ridder Washington Bureau via KFI AM 640:

Gianni Letta, spokesman for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, visited the pope after the surgery and found him in good spirits. He said the pope gestured with his hand, his most common gesture, "as if to say I'm still going to reproach you."

Read more: Pope Suffers Breathing Problems, Undergoes Tracheotomy

Pope Sent to Hospital Again

Earlier today, Pope John Paul II was rushed to the hospital for the second time this month due to a relapse of the flu and continued breathing difficulties. Some aides have indicated that the Pope had a fever and congestion. He arrived at the hospital Gemelli in a conscious state and looked "relaxed," according to some who saw him enter. According to the Associated Press via Yahoo News:

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the pope was taken to the Rome hospital for "necessary specialized assistance and further tests." He was taken by ambulance at 10:45 a.m., officials said.

Vatican officials played down the seriousness of the hospitalization, saying a patient of the pope's age is always at risk from the flu. The pope also has Parkinson's disease (news - web sites) and crippling knee and hip ailments.

Read more: Pope Rushed to Hospital With Flu Relapse

Heirs Of The Fisherman by John-Peter Pham

So I received my gratis copy of Heirs Of The Fisherman: Behind The Scenes Of Papal Death And Succession by John-Peter Pham in the mail yesterday. I skimmed through a few chapters and it was both interesting and pleasurable to read. Others seem to agree, as the book's score is currently 4.5/5 stars at Amazon. More on this to come.