POPE JOHN PAUL II, who has been suffering from breathing problems and the flu, was taken to hospital last night, Vatican officials said.
The 84-year-old has been suffering from influenza since Sunday and apparently suffered a "breathing crisis", an unnamed Vatican official said last night.
Earlier, a close member of the Pope's staff, US Archbishop James Harvey, said he did not know the Pontiff had gone to the hospital, but said he had congestion and a slight fever during the day.
The Vatican planned to issue a communique this morning.
Archbishop Vincent Nich-ols said: "Rome at this time of the year is not always the most healthy of places, partly because of the style of traffic and the rest of it. But the Pope has got a remarkable constitution."
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