Pope Hospitalized

Pope John Paul II, suffering from breathing problems and the flu, was rushed to the hospital late Tuesday night, Vatican officials said.

The 84-year-old pope has been suffering from the flu since Sunday and apparently suffered a "breathing crisis" before being transported to Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital, according to a Vatican official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Vatican later issued a statement sayying the Pope has suffered complications from "a crisis of larynx spasms."

In a post-midnight statement, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said that because of the spasms, "it was decided to urgently hospitalize'' the pope. He was taken to the hospital at 10:50 p.m. Rome time.

The Vatican said Monday that it was a mild case of influenza and that it has canceled the pontiff's audiences for the next few days. A close member of the pope's staff, American Archbishop James Harvey, said the pope had congestion and a slight fever during the day.

Cars with Vatican license plates were speeding toward to Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital where the pope had been taken, according to an AP correspondent at the scene.

It was the same Rome Catholic teaching hospital he was taken to when he was shot in the abdomen in 1981 and at which he has undergone several operations.

The sudden transfer of the pope caught his own staff by surprise.

He was reported to have come down with the flu Sunday, when he made his regular noontime appearance at his window overlooking St. Peter's Square and released a dove in a sign of peace. He appeared remarkably lively, but his words were barely audible.

Until the pope had been taken to the hospital, the Vatican had been issuing reassuring news about his condition, up to Tuesday's late night news cast on Vatican radio.

The frail pontiff has Parkinson's disease, which makes his speech difficult.

But 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 is due 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 canceled his weekly public audience because of an intestinal ailment.

The flu has been sweeping through Italy since December. The Rome region, which is shivering through a cold spell that has dropped temperatures below freezing at night, has been among those hit the hardest.

About 40 percent of the flu cases have been children, with the elderly making up only a small fraction of cases after an aggressive campaign of flu vaccinations for older people, health officials said.

It was not known whether the pontiff had a flu shot.

Vatican Radio asked Navarro-Valls if the pope felt the good wishes of people worldwide who are concerned about his health.

"I think so, and as always, the Holy Father is grateful for the prayers of the faithful and of all those who love him. I think this closeness means a lot to him," Navarro-Valls said.

John Paul has kept a busy schedule despite experiencing difficulties with speech and movement that are typical for Parkinson's sufferers. European Parliament President Josep Borrell was due to call on the pope Friday.

"We know that the health situation is difficult and we are awaiting word on the visit," said Borrell's spokesman Said Hallaouy. "There has been no cancellation so far."

The Vatican makes brief announcements when the pope falls ill, but rarely provides details on the extent of the illness or any medicine he may be taking.

This week, the pope was also scheduled to meet with bishops from Switzerland and preside at a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday afternoon.