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Pope John Paul in hospital
02/02/2005 00:43 - (SA)
Rome - Pope John Paul II, who has had flu for the past two days and which has forced him to cancel his public appointments in the next few days, has been admitted to hospital "as a precaution," reported Italy's Ansa news agency on Tuesday.
"John Paul II has been admitted to hospital this evening in Gemelli hospital as a precaution, given his physical condition due to the flu that he has had since Sunday," said Ansa, quoting authorised Vatican sources.
The 84-year-old pontiff's health was not a source of concern because, since late Sunday, he no longer had a fever, Ansa said. However the pope had a heavy cough, said Ansa.
Among appointments cancelled are John Paul's weekly public audience on Wednesday.
Despite Parkinson's disease and crippling knee and hip ailments, John Paul has appeared in good form in recent months.
He continues to receive foreign leaders - the president of Armenia visited the Vatican last week and the president of the European parliament was due on Friday - as well as appear before pilgrims and tourists twice a week.
The last time the pope skipped an audience for illness was in September 2003, when he cancelled his weekly public audience because of an intestinal ailment.
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