.- Amid much speculation by worldwide media as to John Paul II's true condition following last month's tracheotomy surgery, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, head of the Vatican Press Office released a statement today calling the Holy Father's convalescence "slow and progressive," and added that a feeding tube is now assisting his food and water intake. The statement said that, "The Pope spends many hours each day in an armchair, celebrates Mass in his private chapel and is in working contact with his collaborators, directly following the activity of the Holy See and the life of the Church.
"In order to improve the caloric intake and to favor a valid recuperation of strength," the press director added, "enteral nutrition has been started by placing a nasal-gastric probe (tube)."
Navarro-Valls added that, "All public audiences remain suspended," and that, "Health assistance is assured by the personnel of the Health and Hygiene Services of Vatican City under the direction of Dr. Renato Buzzonetti, the Holy Father's personal physician."
