POPE'S CONVALESENCE SLOW, EATING ASSISTED BY GASTIC TUBE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 30, 2005 (VIS) - The following declaration concerning the Holy Father's health was made early this afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls:

"The Holy Father continues his slow and progressive convalescence.

"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, enteral nutrition has been started by placing a nasal-gastric probe (tube).

"All public audiences remain suspended.

"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."
OP/POPE:HEALTH/NAVARRO-VALLSVIS 050330 (140)

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