Pope ‘given last rites’
Pope John Paul II was tonight given the last rites after his health severely deteriorated, it was reported.
The pontiff has a high fever caused by a urinary tract infection, his spokesman confirmed.
He said: “An appropriate antibiotic therapy has been started. The medical situation is being strictly controlled by the Vatican medical team that is taking care of him.”
The Italian media were reporting sources from the Vatican saying the Pope had been given the last rites, with other reports saying he was “very, very sick”.
