Pope's health crisis timeline

2005-04-01 16:36

Vatican City - Pope John Paul II's health rapidly deteriorated as he battled a high fever due to a urinary tract infection, although his condition appeared to be stabilising early on Friday.

Here is a timeline of the pope's health crisis:

Monday, January 31: Vatican cancels pope's private audiences because of "flu symptoms". Wednesday's weekly general audience is also scrapped.

Tuesday, February 1: Spokesperson Joaquin Navarro-Valls announces pope in hospitalised with an acute throat inflammation that affected his breathing.

Wednesday, February 2: Navarro-Valls says pontiff's health "no cause for alarm" while conceding that pope had "respiratory assistance" overnight.

Friday, February 4: Vatican reports pope's condition improved. Senior cardinal dismisses talk of resignation, saying pope can govern Church from bed, even if physically unable to speak.

Sunday, February 6: Frail but alert pope allays immediate fears with appearance at hospital window. Aide reads message saying pope continues to lead the Church, even from hospital.

Vatican denies he had help from a pre-recorded tape.

Monday, February 7: Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano says question of pope's resignation is matter for his "conscience".

Wednesday, February 9: Pope misses Ash Wednesday prayers for first time in his 26-year papacy. Cardinal Camillo Ruini visits pope in hospital, says he is "really well".

Thursday, February 10: After doctors proclaim pope's acute inflammation "cured", he leaves hospital in his Popemobile, looking grim and stiff.

Sunday, February 13: Recites a few words of his weekly Angelus blessing in a clear though tired voice, aide reads prayer and message.

Monday, February 14: - Saturday, February 19: Retires from public view during annual Lenten retreat.

Sunday, February 20: - Speaks for three minutes during his Sunday Angelus in a reasonably strong and clear voice.

Thursday, February 24: Pope is readmitted to hospital after a relapse. Undergoes "successful" tracheotomy.

Friday, February 25: Vatican says pope has no signs of lung infection but will be unable to speak "for some days".

Sunday, February 27: Pope appears at hospital window minutes after Archbishop Leonardo Sandri performs Angelus in St Peter's Square on his behalf.

Tuesday, March 1: Top Vatican cardinal Joseph Ratzinger says pope able to speak, appears "fully alert".

Wednesday, March 2: Pope skips traditional Wednesday audience at Vatican.

Sunday, March 6: Appears at hospital window.

Wednesday, March 9: Pope blesses crowd from hospital window in first appearance in three days.

Friday, March 11: Vatican television shows pope speaking at mass, the first such images since his tracheotomy.

Sunday, March 13: Speaks his first words in public since his throat operation, briefly addressing pilgrims for his Sunday Angelus from his hospital window before being discharged from hospital.

Wednesday, March 16: The pope's Wednesday audience is cancelled, but John Paul II makes a brief and silent appearance at his window.

Sunday, March 29: The pope misses Palm Sunday mass, which opens the week-long Easter celebrations, for the first time in his 26-year pontificate. Again he blesses the crowd from his window without speaking.

Monday, March 21: Vatican sources say the pope is having difficulty eating, leaving him frail and anaemic.

Friday, March 25: Pope is forced to stay at the Vatican and only appears in video-link during the traditional Way of the Cross ceremony at Rome's Coliseum. He is filmed from behind in an appearance which fails to reassure the faithful and Vatican observers.

Sunday, March 27: In a dramatic moment in St. Peter's square, the pope struggles but fails to give his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) Easter blessing before a crowd of more than 70 000 people.

Monday, March 28: Thousands of faithful wait in vain for the pope to appear at his window as he had done every year on Easter Monday.

Tuesday, March 29: Press reports say the pope may return to hospital.

Wednesday, March 30: Pope again tries to talk at his window but utters only a few gasping sounds. The Vatican admits that his recovery is "slow" and announces that the pope has started to be fed through a nasal tube.

Thursday March 31: The Vatican says the pope has been struck by a "high fever caused by an infection of the urinary tract".

- AFP