VATICAN: Concern about the frail health of Pope John Paul II heightened yesterday after Vatican spokesman Fr Ciro Benedettini confirmed the pontiff would not attend today's weekly public audience in St Peter's Square.
Adding to the growing sense of unease about the Pope's condition was the fact that senior spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls at the last moment opted out of participating at a news conference yesterday, held to promote a new film, John Paul II, The Untold Story, about the life and times of the Pope.
On Monday night, the Pope apparently underwent a "serious crisis", prompting further alarm within the Vatican.
Unofficial sources yesterday suggested the crisis had been prompted by a specific drug and that senior figures from Rome's Gemelli Hospital had been urgently summoned to the papal apartments to treat the Pope.
Concern about the pontiff has also been fuelled by his two most recent public appearances, last Thursday and on Sunday at the end of the traditional Palm Sunday Mass in the Vatican.
On both occasions the Pope looked weak and disoriented, seeming to be in pain as he instinctively brought his hand to his forehead.
Four weeks ago the 84-year-old Pope was rushed to the Gemelli Hospital where he underwent a tracheotomy operation to alleviate breathing problems.
Ten days ago, earlier than anticipated, he left the hospital to return to the Vatican.
On that occasion, he had seemed relatively bright, strong and alert.
Media reports yesterday claimed that, despite Monday night's crisis, the Pope will continue his post-operative recovery in the Vatican where he is under the supervision both of his own personal physician, Dr Renato Buzzonetti, and of a team from the Gemelli Hospital, headed by Prof Rodolfo Proietti.
It is believed senior figures at the Gemelli did not want to release the Pope from hospital last week, arguing that it was too early.
Faced with the intransigent desire of the Pope himself to return to the Vatican, his release was given the go-ahead only on condition that a team from the Gemelli move into the Apostolic Palace in order to be close on hand in case of emergencies.
Yesterday's announcement is confirmation that, as was widely expected, the Pope will, for the first time in his 27-year pontificate, take little or no part in the Vatican's celebrations over Easter.
Television technicians have been at work this week installing extra cabling in the pontifical apartment so that, frail health permitting, the Pope may make a televised appearance during the broadcasting of Friday night's Via Crucis at the Coliseum.
Given yesterday's Vatican announcement, such a TV appearance both on Friday and on Easter Sunday for the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" blessing cannot now be guaranteed.