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The Vatican denies Pope John Paul is dead CTV.ca News Staff The Vatican denies reports that Pope John Paul II has died. Earlier, Italian media agencies gave contradictory reports about the state of the Pope's health. Reuters news agency, citing unconfirmed Italian media reports, said John Paul, the leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics, had died. But Italy's Sky Italia released a report quoting Vatican sources that said the Pope's brain and heart were still functioning. The Vatican denied the report. "It is not true that the Pope is dead and there is no truth that his electro-encephalogram is flat because there is no such machine in the papal apartments," a Vatican official said. The last official Vatican statement on his health said the 84 year-old Pope's breathing "has become shallow," and that his kidneys are not functioning. John Paul's health declined sharply Thursday when he developed a high fever brought on by a urinary tract infection. The Pope suffered septic shock and heart problems during treatment for the infection. Septic shock leads to a massive loss of blood pressure, making the heart try harder and harder to compensate for the collapse. "The chances of an elderly person in this condition with septic shock surviving 24 to 48 hours are slim - about 10-20 percent, but that would be in an intensive care unit with very aggressive treatment," Dr. Gianni Angelini, a professor of cardiac surgery at Bristol University in England, told the Associated Press. Still, the pontiff asked not to be taken to be hospital, but to be treated inside his home at the Vatican. The latest Vatican health bulletin says: "The general conditions and cardio-respiratory conditions of the Holy Father have further worsened. "A gradual worsening of arterial hypotension has been noted, and breathing has become shallow. "The clinical picture indicates cardio-circulatory and renal insufficiency. The biological parameters are notably compromised. "The Holy Father -- with visible participation -- is joining in the continual prayers of those assisting him." Special communion rite Earlier on Friday, Vatican Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the Pope had received the "Holy Viaticum" communion, reserved for those near death, after a sharp downturn in his health overnight. He told his aides he did not want to return to hospital for treatment. "He is now struggling for his life," Vatican Correspondent Gerry O'Connell told Canada AM. "He is not giving up," O'Connell said, describing the mood in Rome as sombre and sad. Still, the regular operations of the Vatican continued on Friday, with a flurry of new appointments. An announcement came that John Paul had appointed 17 new bishops and archbishops. As well, the Pope also accepted the resignation of six others. The large number of appointments and resignations is unusual for one day and has also fueled speculation the Pope may be nearing the end of his life. The nominations and resignations included bishops in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, republics of the former Soviet Union and the Pacific. And in another unusual move, the Vatican said it will keep its press office open all night on Friday, in case there is any news to report at any time on the Pope's condition. The Pope was given cardio-respiratory assistance after his heart stopped Thursday afternoon. "Like any old person he said 'I want to stay in my home' -- the Vatican -- which has been his home for 26 years," O'Connell said. Aides at his side Navarro-Valls also said the Pope was able to celebrate Mass at dawn on Friday, and receive some top aides. Those aides included Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican's No. 2 official, and his doctrinal chief, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Outside the Vatican, thousands of people -- many in tears -- stood in vigil beneath the Pope's apartment window overlooking St. Peter's Square. John Paul II ushered in an era of the global papal outreach, kissing the ground in 129 countries, becoming in the process the most traveled, public pope in the history of the Church. The Pope has had to slow down considerably in recent months, however, as a series of medical setbacks have forced him to curtail his normally packed schedule. On Wednesday, the Vatican underscored the seriousness of his condition when it confirmed the Pope was being fed through a tube. Just hours after the pontiff made a brief silent appearance at his apartment window overlooking St. Peter's Square, Navarro-Valls said doctors had inserted a nasal-gastric feeding tube. There are reports difficulty swallowing have contributed to the Pope -- who also suffers from Parkinson's disease as well as crippling knee and hip ailments -- losing 19 kilograms since undergoing a tracheotomy to ease his breathing on Feb. 24. That was the second time he was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital in a month. Last week, for the first time in his 26-year papacy, the frail pope scaled down Holy Week appearances because of his ailments. He tried, but failed Sunday to give a blessing to the crowd gathered for Easter Sunday Mass. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England
